If it sounds too good to be true, beware

Scott Herndon promises to eliminate property taxes. Remembering the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true – Beware!” 

We send property taxes directly to our county and have much local control. Dover and Sandpoint are asking voters in November to fund local roads. Sandpoint previously voted to make its wastewater system clean and ready for growth. As taxpayers we can vote down a local levy. Fire districts experienced that last year. What rights will we keep to fund — or deny — services we want or need?  

Will the Idaho Legislature decide that fire, water, sewer, library and highway districts need to answer to them instead of to their local boards and voters? Because some legislators hate Boise, will we have funding restrictions put on our cities and roadways?

State tax cuts have already thrown costs on us locally. How will potholes be filled without locally controlled property taxes? Will our schools have to eliminate sports? Have huge class sizes? Will our libraries vanish? Our local service districts stop functioning? 

A previous county commissioner reminded us that we are a “Buyer Beware State.” Demand solid facts and see legislation before sacrificing your important control of local affairs! 

MOLLY O'REILLY

Sandpoint