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This is in regaurd to Angelo Lonzisero’s letter in the March 5 Daily Bee. In his letter he stated that 60 percent of Idaho’s budget goes toward education. If you go to dfm.idaho.gov, you will find this is a gross misrepresentation of the actual numbers.

While Idaho is spending 63 percent of the general fund on education, in the overall budget of Idaho expenditures, it is 23 percent. The general fund is just part of the overall budget. The fund where our education costs come out of, but just one aspect of the overall budget of Idaho expenditures. Cuts were made at the state level in education funding during our last major recession that have not been reinstated, putting Idaho at 49th in the nation in education funding. This is currently being addressed and the future looks promising for better state level funding, but currently this has forced nearly 89 percent of Idaho school districts to cover vital education costs through running supplemental levies.

LPOSD is actually behind a lot of other school districts in Idaho in levy rates. I would also like to address his comment on those who have “skin in the game” stepping up and donating our money to cover the deficit the levy would provide. Don’t we all have skin in the game? These current students are my future car mechanics, healthcare workers, care providers, service workers and protectors. I do not work for, nor have students currently in, LPOSD, but I have skin in the game for all of our futures and my family is voting a resounding yes on Tuesday.

TRACIE ROOS

Sandpoint