We have three school boards who are planning to cover a long-standing gap in high school education. The plan (KTEC) would provide a wide array of job skills training in health occupations, construction trades, welding and automotive trades. The two-year levy proposed for the Aug. 24, 2010, election is for construction of a 50,000-square-foot technical center.

Each district will share the cost in proportion to their population. A homeowner with the homeowner's exemption owning a $200,000 home would have a tax of about $35 per year in Coeur d'Alene, $50 per year in Lakeland and $55 per year in Post Falls. Unless Post Falls renews the expiring levy there will be no increase in the tax rate levied.

North Idaho College plans to expand vocational training facilities on the adjacent site. The school and NIC programs are designed to provide easy credit transfer to NIC where certification is provided. Because high school vocational training qualifies for earmarked vocational hour reimbursement to the schools, the extra cost of quality vocational training is not passed on to the property tax.

We cannot miss the chance to provide job training come Aug. 24.

JODY AZEVEDO

Coeur d'Alene