Don't be taken in by Herndon's half-truths

Scott Herndon promises voters he will work to eliminate property taxes.  

It sounds great. But what Mr. Herndon is proposing is not realistic. His promise also ignores that property taxes fund essential county operations including law enforcement, jails and the courts. Surely Mr. Herndon is not suggesting we defund the police?

Our property taxes also help fund our schools, our local libraries, ambulances and roads and bridges.

None of us like paying taxes. But property tax pays for the services that add to our quality of life.  

Property taxes support local services provided by local government. This is government closest to the people and most easily held accountable.

What Mr. Herndon isn’t telling you is that eliminating property taxes will mean either cutting and eliminating services or funding via the state, and state funding is surely not the answer. The state will centralize control and hold the purse strings. Those of us at the local level will just be given an allowance, which may not be what we really need.

Moving funding away from local control means we give up more of our freedom to decide what we want for our communities.

Don’t be taken in by half-truths.

ROBIN LUNDGREN

Bonners Ferry