Local matters when it comes to the levy

First, don’t forget urban renewal districts do not pay school district taxes. That money goes to the developer. Super 1 – The old Pape land. Your local elected officials decided this.

Go to www.idahoednews.org. Boundary County School District 101 shows a 16% salary increase over 5 years. Scroll through and compare average salaries with school districts similar in population and lifestyle. If $200,000 a month went to kids, why are kids holding carwashes, bake sales, etc.? However, I admire the lessons learned from being a team and self-reliant.

BCSD 101 list an opening for a full-time psychologist. Mental illness is so rampant at schools that a full-time, onsite professional is needed? At what cost?

The age-old argument that higher salaries are needed to attract personnel is just false. The real issue, in my opinion, lies with the lifestyle of the area. There is not a Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Fred Meyer, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, etc., on every corner. Government controlled services like water, sewer, garbage, cable TV, roads, etc., are limited. Without those spoils many prefer to live in the big cities. Nothing is going to change that mindset.

In this tough and uncertain time for many families, it is a slap in the face of citizens that the school board made no attempt to pare down the levy amount. Of course not. If it is voted down in March, it can be run again in May, August and November. Local matters.

ROSANNE SMITH

Moyie Springs