Herndon's proposal is a 'poison apple'

A recent Bonner County Daily Bee reported on one more stop in Scott Herndon’s “abolish property tax” roadshow.

Funding law enforcement, roads and schools through property taxes has a long history. And it has been key to the functioning of this Republic because it keeps government close to the people. The separation between local, state and federal governments is a key component of our vertical system of checks and balances.

With property taxes, each of us has an opportunity to participate in budget hearings and to vote on levies and bonds. We do not have that direct influence when it comes to spending our state and federal tax dollars.

Herndon’s message pushes citizens as victims and government as oppressor. It’s deliberate and it’s wrong. He advances the narrative that paying property taxes is renting from the government.

The phrasing is intended to trigger so we won’t think. However, many Idahoans are pretty independent. We don’t like the legislature to run our lives and our communities. We are looking carefully at how we will fund the Sheriff’s Department, roads and bridges and other county essentials without property taxes.  

County commissioners will have to put their hand out to the legislature where 105 individuals will decide the amount of their allowance.

What Herndon is proposing is a poison apple. It looks appealing but it will result in transferring political power from the people to a small group of legislators.

MARY OLLIE

Bonners Ferry