Vote 'yes' on facilities levy

Posted Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at 9:08 AM

Next Tuesday, voters will go to the polls to cast ballots in the Taxing Districts Election, a new concept for the state when it rewrote the elections laws last year and consolidated all the "little" elections into one big one.

Have pity on the poor county officials who are now responsible for handling all elections in the county. This is their first run at trying to sort out voters into the right elections at the polls, with each taxing district having different boundaries, and you can only imagine what kind of a nightmare that will be. So if any confusion develops, have some understanding.

These elections are more important than you might think. All of them will involve how your tax dollars are spent.

Many of the elections were canceled because only one person ran for the position. In future years, perhaps this consolidation will help draw more candidates into public service.

The most important vote Tuesday will be for the Mountain Home School District plant facilities levy. This levy, which has been reduced slightly this year, helps keep the district's aging buildings in shape. The district has done a good job keeping up the maintenance of these buildings, helping stave off requests for much more expensive new construction. This levy is desperately needed. Already facing a state budget cut of $1 million, the district would be hard pressed to find another million from its operations budget to fund needed upkeep and repairs. We strongly urge a vote in favor of continuing this levy.

* * *

In related news, two positions are up for election to the school board. To replace retiring Tom Rodney, Rick Checketts is facing off against Gary Oyler for the Zone 3 position and incumbent Toni Reynolds is being challenged by Art Nelson for the Zone 1 post. Neither Nelson nor Oyler thought it was important to explain their positions in a questionnaire we mailed to each of the candidates, so neither we, nor the voters, have any idea where they stand on the issues. We suggest that any candidate who declines to answer questions from the public, who isn't interested in letting them know where they stand, should probably not hold a public trust.

We are not, however, endorsing any specific candidate for any position up for election. But we do urge voters to go to the polls. Over the years, sometimes only a handful of people have voted in some of these elections. That puts a lot of power in the hands of just a few voters, who may or may not be representative of the whole.

If you can't get to the polls next Tuesday, try and find time this week to pick up an absentee ballot at the courthouse. Democracy works only when the voters participate.

Let's make it work.

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

Levy-----Levy------Levy...........

Whatever happened to the "Levies we used to drive our Chevies" to?

Yes indeed.........maybe that WAS "the day the music died."

-- Posted by bazookaman on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 9:31 AM

VOTE NO on this "yet another" LEVY....VOTE NO. Make them live within a budget like the rest of us have to.

-- Posted by Trouble2011 on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 9:40 AM

Why should THEY have to live on a budget? The "elite" is BETTER than we are........

And like Washington, these local yokels TOO, know how to spend OUR money better than WE DO!!

Didn't ya know that?

NO.............absolutely, positively........NO!!

-- Posted by bazookaman on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 9:53 AM

LEVY?

NOPE, NO WAY, NO HOW, AINT GONNA HAPPEN, NOT GONNA GET MY VOTE!!!

I am DONE watching my tax money vanish without any real accountability. You folks wanna play magician with money do it with YOUR OWN!

-- Posted by cant justwatch on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 10:11 AM

Yeah, I don't think so.

-- Posted by CuriousParents on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 10:42 AM

If you voters don't know how the money is being spent, that is your fault. Go to school board meetings, request financial statements, then read them and ask questions. Or just remain as you are.

-- Posted by residentpast on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 11:54 AM

residantclueless,

I would suggest if YOU don't have a clue as to the history behind all of the distaste and animousity towards these levy's, and bonds, and suspect use of tax dollars you do some reading of your own before you come here making snide comments.

-- Posted by cant justwatch on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 11:58 AM

residentpast,

I also would suggest you read, read, and read some more. You need to go back and read about the last 11 years of info and research done during the last bond issues. You too would be very highly suspect as to how our money is spent and the honesty of administrations involved. During bond issues I did attend meetings, called for info and asked questions. I was told I had to pay for info here, but went to Boise and got it for free. I ended up going to Boise to do news research, went to the State web sites for honest student registration numbers for certain years, and also pay and facility budgets. All this AFTER the questions were asked here in Mtn. Home. So, maybe you need to do the resarch yourself including school bond related news articles from late 90's to current, and then come back with your views.

That being said, I still don't trust the current administration.

-- Posted by midea on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 12:30 PM

midea,

It appears that "residentpast" may be here solely trying to play cover his/her tail. On a different blog posting here they admitted to having direct ties to the auditing of school district budgets, and a personal knowledge of how it all works. they claimed "over 40 years experience" at it, maybe it is time for a neutral forensic audit of the shcool districts books for the past 20 years or so. Then maybe residentpast could become "residentstatepen" LOL

-- Posted by cant justwatch on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 12:38 PM

Wow Kelly...they did not think your questions were important enough!

Could it be that the last time you talked to one of these people before the election...you did not represent the facts and injected mostly opinion? Good reason not to respond to our slanted paper. Keep it up. You will throw this election too. Oh wait. That is just what you want to do.

Well done. Now all we need is a paper that serves this community and presents the facts without all of the bull and opinion. Worry less about an invite to the next BBQ and more about reporting.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 9:33 PM

hahahaha HECK NO!!!

-- Posted by Moanah on Wed, May 11, 2011, at 11:27 PM

NOPE NOPE NOPE!!!

-- Posted by zombie on Thu, May 12, 2011, at 12:17 PM

midea appears to have done the homework, but like so many cannot or will not trust anyone. I've seen a lot of those figues on State Department of Educations website and they don't always answer all my questions either, but do provide info for trending. It is unfortunate that you can not get answers you need locally, which leads to mistrust you have for current admin. You seem to like to dig so keep digging.

-- Posted by residentpast on Thu, May 12, 2011, at 1:48 PM

Anyone who trusts government at ANY level, is a 14-karat fool.

-- Posted by bazookaman on Thu, May 12, 2011, at 6:36 PM

Zook,

Kinda like when you trust the gubmint to deliver your 1099 R on time...paid for by the taxpayers by the way.

There's something disingenuous about taking someone else's money and simultaneously complaining about the gubmint sharing the wealth with someone you don't agree with.

Prolific blogger that you are, you're beginning to bore me. When you join the revolution, will you be returning your pension?

-- Posted by junkyard dog on Thu, May 12, 2011, at 7:26 PM

M son can say that! I also have a lady friend who is AF and over in Afghanistan.

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 7:58 AM

I guess SOMEBODY didn't like my response to that, Homer..........it doesn't seem to be there now.

But that's ok..........I've done what most have not, and have no reservations at all about depositing WHAT IS MINE!

-- Posted by bazookaman on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 8:25 AM

You probably earned more than you get and most military retirees have lost their promised free health care for life and are paying for it. But I guess they needed the vets money to pay for illegal health care? Just asking.

-- Posted by skeeter on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 9:45 AM

dog,

Clueless innapropriate comment dude! If you think a career in the military or fighting on a battlefield is so unworthy of the monies owed to Bazooka or ANY other Veteran, I suggest you go spend a few months in the desert. Nuff said on that.

Bazooka,

Rock on Sir! You are correct for that career you spent defending this country that money and those benefits you have EARNED are yours, not some handout as classless "dog" has tried to imply!

-- Posted by cant justwatch on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 1:12 PM

JYD has already been asked by me the time spend in the military and in combat or support of combat, His answer was not going to write a resume to satify to curious people. Sure looks to me like it leaves him hanging out and just jealous because of us that served and retired get a few bucks a month for it and also have to pay taxes to Federal and State on that retirment pay, nothing like paying a part of your own pay check.

Retired pays for their health insurance at a low rate compared to civilians under 65 then another program kicks in plus medicare which we have to pay for out of the Social Security money. So you wonder boys that didn't serve or retire from the military get off my butt about the retirement pay and others get.

-- Posted by Eagle_eye on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 3:54 PM

And when you signed up you thought you were going to get health care free and then along comes tri care....I still can't figure out how they could do that to those that signed before tri care was in place

My SS is $151.00 a month out of that I pay $110.00 for my medicare leaving me a big whooping $41.00. If they cut medicare I wonder if I will get any ss. lol !

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 4:35 PM

If you guys would answer a question rather than try to anal-ize the person who asked it, then maybe a real dialogue could take place.

What you don't know is that we are, both, paid for our service by the same goverment. I'll match my bonafides with any one of you chest thumping apes. But, this forum is not the place for such revelation.

-- Posted by junkyard dog on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 7:36 PM

Marylin...............ask Pat about the "great dangling of the carrots" before the signing and the swearing-in.

"And all THIS shall be yours...........sign right here."

And what swamp did you "thump YOUR chest" in, JYD?

-- Posted by bazookaman on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 8:22 PM

JYD.......THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE I DONT AGREE WITH ALL THE TIME BUT THIS TIME,IM WITH THEM...........WHO ARE YOU TO TELL US WHO SERVED ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD FEEL ABOUT WHAT WE EARNED..YOU MAY HAVE GREAT (BONIFIDES) DONT KNOW AND DONT CARE...........Dont even attempt to tell us about broken promises,or our 1099,or anything else that goes with 20 plus years service to ensure your (right) to degrade us. WE EARNED EVERY PENNY OF IT.... . THE NEXT TIME THEY NEED PEOPLE PLEASE HURRY UP AND VOLUNTEER.....BETTER STILL DO IT NOW............

CHEST THUMPING????????? APES ???????????? AND YOU???????? SAVE THE INSULTS WE CAN DO WITHOUT THEM ON THAT NOTE.....ZOOK ASKED A QUESTION....WHAT SWAMP??????????

-- Posted by lamont on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 10:35 PM

dog,

Arrogant much? do you honestly wish to compare your "education" and sacrifice, suffering through paper cuts and eye strain to a career in the military?

As an "educator" you receive quite the handsome pay AND benefits package even here in lil old Mountain Home, almost every person in this community has been affected by the downturn in the economy and you are still so pompous and determined to protect your golden nest egg you will come on here and spew your trash.

Want to share with the readers of this blog how much you or your family members pay as a co-pay for an insured doctor's visit? How about dental? vision? All of that ON TOP of a WELL above average salary when compared to your neighbors in this community... FOR EIGHT MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR

You have bragged many times about how impressed you are with yourself and how you could easily find "other" employment instead of teaching... I would suggest you MOVE ALONG! because I seriously doubt your attitude hasn't already affected the poor students you suffer through educating.

-- Posted by cant justwatch on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 10:47 PM

Due to the OTHER levy that passed last year homeowners and business owners are paying an increase of approximately 20 dollars per month per 100 thousand in assessed value. CHECK THIS YEARS TAX STATEMENT!

What is REALLY annoying about it all to me is the fact that these "levys" are an ADDITIONAL tax above and beyond the dang school taxes we are ALREADY paying!!!!

If they slide this one past us they then have us shafted for TWO levys AND the regular school district taxes as well...

But HEY don't worry pompous characters like junkyard dog here will still be able to afford their nice summer vacations and all the nice things in life ON OUR DIME!!!

-- Posted by cant justwatch on Fri, May 13, 2011, at 10:53 PM

I haven't been on in a while, and I wish I could vote no on the levy, but I don't think my absentee ballot will make it to Afghanistan in time. Hopefully it doesn't pass.

JYD,

Are you serious? Zook, through his blog has put it all out there, no pounding chest required. There are many of us on these blogs that know what others and ourselves have given up in life, happiness, and sound mind, for the good of AMERICA.

If it was all about the money, why have I deployed seven times as military for the guard? I make three times as much in my civilian job as I do when I am activated. I work as a contractor overseas, but when my unit deploys, I VOLUNTEER to deploy as an E-7, making 1/3 of what I do as a contractor. I am not required, but it is my duty. There are many folks just like me out there, losing money when we deploy.

So yeah any time you want to flop it out, I am more than willing to find a ruler.

-- Posted by Conservative on Sat, May 14, 2011, at 12:17 AM

Conservative Stay safe and please keep in touch with us when you can.

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Sat, May 14, 2011, at 8:52 AM

THE MORE I thought about.....JWD.......the madder I GOT......MY brother taught 35 yrs in the N.Y.school system,yes he's retired...yes his benefits are great,better than yours im sure JWD and the only thing he ever said to me was THANKYOU.

YOU sir need to check yourself....you dont owe us anything but you darn well need to respect what we did.YOU DONT LIKE IT HERE OR COULD MAKE MORE MONEY ELSEWHERE........GO PLEASE GO......I WILL STAND FOR THE AVERAGE TEACHER,NOT SOMEONE WHO FEELS ANYONE IS LESS THAN.I HOPE YOUR NOT TEACHING YOUR ATTITUDE IN CLASS,I FIND OUT YOU ARE I WILL CALL FOR YOUR HEAD......GO NOW

-- Posted by lamont on Sat, May 14, 2011, at 9:27 AM

How does that slogan go Lamont??....."if you can read, thank a teacher. If you can read in ENGLISH, thank a veteran."

-- Posted by bazookaman on Sat, May 14, 2011, at 3:43 PM

I wouldn't have voted for it anyway..........the "ink ain't dry" from the LAST ONE!

-- Posted by bazookaman on Sun, May 15, 2011, at 9:03 AM

You folks seem to have wrapped yourselves in indignation...?what insult to servicemen have I uttered? Go back and read every post I delivered.

It's your vocal outcry against taxes, while simultaneously boasting about how you earned your benefits that sounds disharmonious to my ears.

BTW, I will not be retiring from education. As for the local retirement plan, it's 50/50 pay as you go. I don't use the school insurance plan...I have tricare for life.

-- Posted by junkyard dog on Sun, May 15, 2011, at 8:24 PM

"Ape" could well be considered an insult, but that's neither here nor there.

Until you've ducked & dodged artillery, the leeches, the RPG's and the AK-47's, don't be lecturing US, "professor", and what is earned and what isn't.

-- Posted by bazookaman on Mon, May 16, 2011, at 8:41 AM

AMNEN TO THAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by lamont on Mon, May 16, 2011, at 8:57 AM

junkyard dog,

"You folks seem to have wrapped yourselves in indignation...?"

funny seems to me YOU are being the arrogant one, so impressed with yourself how dare anyone consider YOU being paid less.... Or do you not remember telling all just how amazing and smart you are and how you could do so much better elsewhere?

"what insult to servicemen have I uttered? Go back and read every post I delivered."

"I'll match my bonafides with any one of you chest thumping apes. But, this forum is not the place for such revelation."

Hmmm chest thumping apes a term of endearment perhaps?

dog at one point I was able to at least appreciate your point of view when you openly admitted you ARE an educator/teacher and in your opinion you believed your skill set is worth the money you are paid. yet somehow NOW when threatened your approach is to demean and imply the works and efforts of other are somehow LESS than yours.

I tell ya what my "bonafides" are pretty extensive as well, including over 6 years in front of a podium and not just force feeding kids what the textbook says, try teaching foreign nationals who barely get the language, try explaining complex technical electronics to someone who barely speaks english and get back to me "mr. amazing".

Interesting how you just ignored key parts of my line of questioning though, so you nor your family use the medical insurance? The dental? Optical? (pretty spendy options there, all included on tax payer dime) ON TOP OF WAGES THAT DWARF THOSE OF THE AVERAGE CITIZEN OF MOUNTAIN HOME.

-- Posted by cant justwatch on Mon, May 16, 2011, at 11:32 AM

GET out and VOTE NO on yet another LEVY/TAX or what ever you like to call it. Make them live with in a budget. Lets change the School Board and vote down yet another tax, heck they just got a levy past last election. They must think we are really gullible.

-- Posted by Trouble2011 on Tue, May 17, 2011, at 11:04 AM

I agree with Trouble2011

NO MORE LEVYS!!!

NO MORE LEVYS!!! NO MORE LEVYS!!!

NO MORE LEVYS!!!

-- Posted by cant justwatch on Tue, May 17, 2011, at 11:34 AM

Well, we actually WON this one........but don't rest too easy-----they'll be back with some other angle.

Watch for it.

-- Posted by bazookaman on Wed, May 18, 2011, at 3:08 PM

The people have spoken, and their will shall be obeyed.

Nevertheless, I want to apologize for one of my comments. You see, I didn't consider that real apes would have felt insulted by association. Sorry Kong, I meant to say, troglodytes.

Nothing I've written has ever denigrated the achievements of anyone following this string (with the possible exception of OM). How you boys earned you tax funded pension has never been criticized by me...your hypersensitivity to challenge was more damaging to your feelings than anything I ever wrote. My main point has been that being a tax beneficiary and being a tax protester just looks too much like a pimp criticising a john.

Remember, that anything the Gubmint gives, it can also take away. Now that you have turned off funds used to maintain and repair Mtn Home's school buildings, maybe you can work on something less important, like medical services or law enforcement. Even I think that the golf course is a tragic waste of a perfectly good firing range.

-- Posted by junkyard dog on Wed, May 18, 2011, at 7:35 PM

How does getting BACK what was ours to BEGIN with, constitute being a "tax beneficiary?"

-- Posted by bazookaman on Wed, May 18, 2011, at 7:48 PM

JYD........WERE ARE WE SOPPOSED TO GET THE MONEY FROM ????????? I for one have lost 100.000.00 in 2 yrs in value on my properties.My taxes have not changed.You need to be angry at ADMIN you cannot come at us 2 yrs in a row and expect us to say yes, you are trying to pile one lvey on top of another.DID someone tell admin that we were making more money.,BECAUSE IF THEY DID THEY LIED.

Tell admin to post the entire budget in the paper with there needs and then we will consider it.....I for one want to know were the money is going.

As for your comment about our retirment cks let me inform you.....we payed taxes from those checks while on active duty and we pay taxes on them now,Did you know they just upped our taxes ?????? yes we got a taxe hike mine was approx $50.00 did your taxes go up ????????? THE PRICE OF FOOD IS RISING,GASE,ETC.....nothing is changing for us except time.

NOW the calling of names "APES" I had enough of that after NAMM and i dont need it now so next time you want to call names scream at yourself.

MEDICAL SERVICE,FIR DEPT ,ALL COME UNDER SCRUTINY and believe it or not they get complained about and chastised also,i know i do a lot of it.

I DID NOT LIKE SAYING NO,I FOR ONE DONT DENY MY GRANDS TO MUCH,THEY ASK THEY GET.This was one step to far.beliieve me i know what a new gymn floor cost.1 levy with everything in it,with justification,and then live with it,money does not grow on trees and those of us who own property and live on fixed incomes dont have a lot of room to play.........IF YOUR MAD SO ARE WE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by lamont on Sun, May 22, 2011, at 6:00 PM

Right on, Bro......tell it like it is!

PS.......I just emailed you some pictures a little bit ago.

-- Posted by bazookaman on Sun, May 22, 2011, at 6:58 PM

Meanderings of the Managing Editor

Kelly Everitt

- Recent posts
- Archives
- Blog RSS feed

- Comments RSS feed

- Login

Hot topics

Yet more jobs for robots
(2 ~ 12:18 PM, Mar 21)

We're probably safe
(13 ~ 11:26 AM, Feb 4)

Does GOP need *every* seat?
(6 ~ 9:16 PM, Jan 28)

More funds for education needed
(9 ~ 7:28 AM, Jan 22)

Beware of 'victory disease'
(1 ~ 8:56 AM, Jan 12)

Home