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You need to determine the return on investment of the LPOSD tax burden given alternative uses. If schools are generating benefits, financial or otherwise, that accrue beyond returns from alternative investments and if you think the levy increase will generate additional ROI, then vote yes.

You need to decide whether LPOSD is allocating its money to personnel, curriculum, projects, and operations in ways that provide the kind of value-added you think appropriate for our children and cost-effective for our community. If you are persuaded of both and think the levy will help on both counts, then vote yes.

You need to consider how the LPOSD budget fits into the larger fiscal picture of Sandpoint and Bonner County. As a small community without many corporate, federal and state jobs, extra tax dollars must provide outsized returns. We face major infrastructure projects and school facility upgrades. We spent a ridiculous sum on a little-used sports stadium. We may lose the resort tax facility. We face pension liabilities, funded and unfunded. We must be extra prudent with any levy or bond that derives revenues directly from local taxpayers. If you feel the levy is a priority and within our means, then vote yes.

Otherwise, vote no.

Reject arguments that appeal to salary benchmarking, emotions, and embittered jealousy. These have no place. Your vote is a financial and economic exercise for yourselves and our children.

PETER KRIZ

Sandpoint