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This Tuesday, March 12, the school district is presenting a $25.4 million biennial levy proposition to the voters. The school district sought a $1.3 million levy increase, amounting to a $17 million levy in 2017. This year’s levy is an eye-popping $8.4 million increase, which is a 645-percent increase ($1.3 million/$8.4 million). The $8.4 million increase is further a 49-percent increase in total levy amount from the last $17 million levy amount, ($17 million/$25.4 million).

The massive tax grab is being used to pad certified employee retirements and increase certified salaries across the staff population. This levy will culminate a 2015-2020 certified salary increase of 35 percent. The marvels of a Trump economy.

Amidst past levy elections and specifically in the lposd.org link, “March 12, 2019 Things to Know about the Levy.pdf,” bottom of page one, is an inappropriate threat of fear and intimidation offered by the district administration and employee’s for financial self gain, not greater student achievement. “Failure of this levy … (means) schools would have to be consolidated.”

Pursuant to Idaho Code 33-511, consolidation without a separate election vote is misinformation and an intimidation tactic that alone deserves a vote against the levy ballot question. The district through its network of staff, associates and student parents have great taxing power over the balance of district taxpayers. The district taxpayers need to say: Enough is enough. We shall not be coerced into unreasonable taxes by intimidation of not conceding to unreasonable salary and retirement demands.

Advise others quickly to vote against this Tuesday, March 12

DANIEL ROSE

Samuels