WBCSD levy is not for the students

After the resounding March 12 defeat of West Bonner County’s School District’s $3 million levy, the district has begun their next campaign by promoting the same levy for a May 21 election.

Apparently not able to understand what “no” is, they are claiming this extra taxation is necessary due to reduced state funding. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that over the past five years, the total revenue the school has received (excluding the levy) has increased $1.2 million (from $8,086,185 for the 2013-2014 school year to $9,263,290 for the 2017-2018 school year). For each of these years, the school managed to leverage another $3 million levy from district taxpayers.

More importantly, during this period of time student population dropped 13 percent (from 1,210 students in the 2013-2014 school year to 1,057 in the 2017-2018 school year). This drop in student population is continuing with the current school year projection of only 970 students. One would surmise that with this dramatic enrollment drop, so should the cost of operations, but not so with our school district. The reason is clear. The levy is not being spent on the students.

Vote “no” on the May 21 school levy rerun and demand fiscal responsibility from school management.

GLENN ROHRER

Priest River