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lposd levy
What’s the rush on
the permanent levy?
Shortly after the LPOSD $12.7 million supplemental levy was approved by voters earlier this year, a new battle cry arose: “stable funding for our schools.” So now, only a few months after the supplemental levy was approved, voters are being asked again to “support our schools” and this time make the supplemental levy permanent.
I had to ask myself, what’s the rush? Bonner County taxpayers have provided our schools with stable funding of $12.7 million a year for the next two years, so why should we make this levy permanent before we understand what effect it has had in improving our children’s education?
A quick look at the 2019-2020 LPOSD budget shows that $10.3 million of the $12.7 million supplemental levy (81%) will go to “staffing.” The LPOSD chief financial officer stated in the June 4 budget summary message that the increased funding in the current levy allowed all staff that could move on in their respective matrix to move, with an average increase of 10.5% to 13.5% and that this finally places our district in competitive salary range with other regional Idaho school districts. Fair enough, since the battle cry for the supplemental levy in March was to make the staff salaries competitive and prevent a hypothetical mass exodus of staff in search of higher paying jobs elsewhere in the region. So now, let’s take some time to assess the impact of these pay raises and not rush to make this levy permanent.
Then it hit me. Even though the supplemental levy passed in March, we have yet to receive our tax bills that reflect this increased levy. So in fairness to taxpayers, we have no idea what each of us will pay for the supplemental levy until the 2019 tax bills come out after the election date! The LPOSD is asking us to approve a permanent tax increase without the taxpayers knowing what they will pay. That’s kind of like asking us to buy a new car or home without knowing what the monthly payments will be.
So let’s step back and revisit this issue in two years when the current levy expires. I urge voters to vote against authorizing the levy for an indefinite term.
RUSS JANICKE
Sagle
election
Support Mitchell
for city council
I have worked with Shannon for the past two years, and can attest to her love of Sandpoint, and her desire to help make it even better.
Shannon knows how to get things done quickly and efficiently, and is dedicated to her work, and helping others wherever she is able to.
Shannon is a great Mom, as anyone who has met her amazing children, can attest to, and wants to help keep Sandpoint a great place for kids to grow up in. If you have similar values, please be sure to give Shannon Mitchell your vote on Nov. 5.
DANIEL CHENOWETH
Sagle
Guinan will bring diversity to council
Condescension is not a trait of an effective and welcoming city council. And it was on full display at Tuesday’s candidate forum.
From the current mayor having the audacity to suggest that voting for him would keep the other councilwoman in her seat for two years, to the obvious look of boredom on the face of the other incumbent, it’s clear that new voices are needed.
Jacque Guinan offers voters a chance to change the face of the Sandpoint city council. She’ll truly represent all the constituents of Sandpoint, not just a chosen few with whom she agrees.
Jacque loves Sandpoint, and she pledges to address the crisis that is the sewage plant, to address the bloated budget, to respect the needs of area businesses and residents, and to prioritize their needs over vanity projects.
It’s your opportunity to bring balance to a city council that is clearly lacking in diversity.
Please vote for Jacque Guinan on Nov. 5.
JASON GIDDINGS
Sagle
A vote for leadership and political diversity
Having attended Tuesday’s candidates forum, I was quite impressed with those standing for election. I would be proud to have each of them represent me in local government. But with more candidates than open seats, I face tough choices. To this aim, I would like to share my thoughts.
Two principles will guide me. The first is leadership. What I seek is a mayorship and City Council headed by strong-willed individuals immersed in the technical demands of planning, able to navigate among the legal and policy requirements of their posts, and steadfastly devoted to decision making in the face of opposition. Currently, Sandpoint has a mayor and president of the City Council that meet each of these criteria. Their eloquence despite differences suggest a great loss were we to lose either of them.
The second is political diversity. Sandpoint sports a wide range of demographics in terms of age, careers, and backgrounds. If it is to truly represent the community, the City Council must reflect that diversity. We should ensure a forum in which a wide range of perspectives are voiced with a cacophony reflective of her constituents. Such representation will refine leadership in a way that optimizes accountability. While harmony is tempting, I will instead vote for the kind of diversity that reflects my own purpled perspectives.
If democracy is to mean anything, we must empower a wider range of voices going forward. In doing so, we can achieve a more robust quality of unity. E pluribus unum.
PETER KRIZ
Sandpoint
Guinan is the voice
we need on council
Jacque Guinan is the reason the board is discussing the urgency with which the sewage issue needs immediate attention. She’s the reason the burden that the continuous downtown beatification projects are having on area businesses is being discussed.
And she’s the voice we need on the Sandpoint City Council.
From prioritizing environmental issues like the sewage treatment plant, to looking at ways to reign in excessive spending, to placing the needs of our area citizens and local businesses ahead of those of tourists, Jacque promises to represent all constituents, not just those who nod their heads in agreement.
I urge you to give Jacque your vote on Nov. 5.
JEFF MILLER
Sagle
City issues should be decided by residents
I have noticed that most of the letters supporting Ken Lawrence for mayor are from people who don’t live in Sandpoint. Why do these outsiders want to tell those of us who live in Sandpoint what is best for us, how to live our lives and who to vote for?
What bothers these outsiders most is the fact that Sandpoint is an island of liberal inclusion, tolerance, diversity and cognitive flexibility within those outsiders’ sea of self-righteous conservative exclusionism and elitist holier-than-thou attitudes.
These outsiders look down their elitist noses with a smug sense of moral superiority because they consider themselves to be superior to those who don’t share their beliefs.
I have a blunt message for those of you who think this way … you are delusional.
By the way, recently when given questions to answer, Lawrence, without saying so directly, indicated he supports guns at the Festival.
LEE SANTA
Sandpoint
Let’s keep Rognstad
as Sandpoint mayor
I’ll turn 40 this month. As a mom, wife, daughter, dog owner, professional, friend, and resident of Sandpoint, I’ve come to learn there are many Sandpoints. With each perspective comes unique representation needs. Our system of local government means we elect one mayor; however, if you want to maintain a strong leadership structure, one choice is clear.
Voting for mayor Shelby Rognstad secures two strong leaders — he and city council president Shannon Williamson. With your vote for Shelby, you will also be voting to keep Shannon Williamson in her current office for two more years.
A vote for Shelby is a vote to maintain a strong leadership structure. To me, Mayor Shelby Rognstad represents leadership as process. As a fourth-generation Idahoan and a committed civil servant, Shelby has been on the inside working within and planning city processes since 2007. This is complex work.
According to Shannon Williamson, “We have a lot at stake in the next four years … they are critical” (Oct. 29 candidate forum). I agree with her on this point. Our current city council and mayor have demonstrated their ability to work within the existing structure to provide the planning processes needed to sustainably support our community and navigate the challenges that lie in our immediate future. Let’s keep it that way — Vote Shelby Rognstad for mayor. Under his leadership, we can secure representation for all of our many Sandpoints.
LIZ WARGO
Sandpoint
Rognstad for mayor
is the best decision
After attending Tuesday night’s Sandpoint city council and mayoral candidate forum, I feel confident that the best decision a concerned citizen of Sandpoint can make is to vote for our incumbent mayor, Shelby Rognstad, for mayor and to keep Shannon Williamson, our current city council president and a very competent and well qualified leader in her own right, in her role as city council president.
Together these two leaders can move Sandpoint into the next phase of its comprehensive plan, making our town a place we can be proud to raise our children in.
Splitting the vote between these two qualified individuals risks handing the mayor’s office to a candidate who last night demonstrated plain as day that he is woefully unprepared and under-qualified to handle the responsibilities of the office of mayor. Ken Lawrence, beyond reading a couple of prepared statements of fact about the city’s water treatment plan and the comprehensive plan, demonstrated with each trip to the podium that (while he cares deeply about our community and wants what is best for Sandpoint) he is totally unprepared for the responsibilities the mayor role would require of him.
A vote for Shelby for mayor is a vote Shannon for city council president. Both these individuals are highly qualified and together they will assure continued progress and stability in our community as it enters the next phase of its growth and development.
JASON WELKER
Sandpoint