McMurtrey insist Phase II cost will only increase

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Mountain Home School District Superintendent Tim McMurtrey knows $37 million is a lot to ask voters on April 29, but his reason for doing so is simple.

"This is what we need. We're not building it because it's pretty and would be nice to have," McMurtrey said of the school board's plan to complete Phase II of turning the junior high in to a high school.

"The kids deserve a good school, that is what this is, it's a good building that is going to last," he said.

The school district's job of maintaining its buildings is evident at Hacker Middle School, where classes are still held in the annex built in 1920. East Elementary was built in 1951 and the high school in 1954.

To finance the completion of the building, the school district is seeking the approval of a $37 million bond over 20 years. The new debt would be added to the existing debt from the 1995 bond that built the junior high.

The bond will have a levy rate of .00175 or $1.75 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value of property in the school district.

If passed, the levy rate will be added to the levy rate of the existing bond until 2015 when the first bond is paid off. The levy rate will remain the same in 2015 and the full amount collected will go towards the new bond.

Taxes on property with a taxable assessed net value of $100,000, would increase an additional $14.59 a month.

Net value is determined once the homeowner's exemption has been applied to the original assessment.

The homeowner's exemption is given to owner-occupied houses and for tax year 2007 was equal to less 50 percent of the value of the property, including up to one acre of land, or the maximum of $89,325.

This means if the owner of the property occupies a $189,325 house on one acre, the owner would pay the same taxes for property valued at $100,000.

The assessed value within the school district was $1,005,064,817 for 2007. With the 0.00175 levy rate, the school district would have raised approximately $1.75 million in 2007, had the bond already been in place.

Because the assessed value within the school district increases yearly, the levy rate decreases slightly year to year.

Rather than pass the bond in pieces, the school district is asking voters for the full amount of what it would cost to complete the project.

McMurtrey said building in phases would cost more since the cost will continue to rise with each new bond.

The school board asked for a $34.5 million bond in September to complete the same project but was denied by 73 votes. The district is seeking $37 million this time to cover the increased cost of construction.

"We feel prudent to do it once. It's better for tax payers to do it this way," McMurtrey said.

McMurtrey said the school bond committee recommendation was: "Do it right the first time," and that it was time to finish the school and make it a ninth- though 12th-grade building.

The committee meets routinely and is made up of 37 members representing each school, parents, alumni, business owners, representatives from Mountain Home Air Force Base and other citizens.

The bond will add 28 classrooms, a performing arts wing with an auditorium, a professional technical building and a new gymnasium complex.

$1.5 million dollars of the bond is earmarked to replace the roof on Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium at the current high school.

The bow trusses are failing there and McMurtrey said the district has babied the trusses as long as they can, including wrapping them in steel, but it is time to replace them.

The new roof can't wait, even if the bond fails. McMurtrey said the school district will have to adjust the district's five-year maintenance plan to finance the roof if the bond fails.

The district will also have to use the plant facility and federal forest funds the school receives to replace the roof.

The school district uses those funds to purchase new technology as well as textbooks. All of the district's plant facility and federal forest funds would have to go towards the roof for the next two years.

The school district's bonding capacity, the most amount of money it can owe on bonds at one time, is five percent of the assessed value within the district, or approximately $65 million currently.

The district still owes $6.9 million from the last bond. If the current $37 million bond passes, the district will still have the ability to bond approximately $21 million.

The school district has scheduled bond election question and answer meetings from noon to 1 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. on April 9 and 16 at the school district administration office.

The bond election is April 29. If the bond passes, the project would be completed by 2011 at the earliest.

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  • Folks this whole bond business is NOT about "KIDS".

    Its about Taxation, you know "MONEY"

    here's my breakdown for 2007

    1 County $ 179.00.

    2 Mountain Home $ 384.30.

    3 193 Bond $ 39.80.

    4 193 Other $ 56.32.

    5 WEC Rec Dist $ 23.32.

    Now why Im paying a tax on the County, got me.

    Mountain home,,,why do they need 384.30 of my money, what do they do?.

    what is that $39.80 bond from,, and "OTHER" for $56.32, what the heck is that.

    WEC Rec Dist. $23.32, X "times" 10 years let me see mmm that tax man and WEC Rec Dist, owes me over $2000.00 excuse me, I would like my money back I have bills and credit cards too pay and they come before Bonds, So can I have my money back.

    here's another couple

    MTN Home HWY $31.20 will you please fix the Roads, if not can I have money back.

    Hospital Dist $23.32,, give me a break here

    -- Posted by Freedom on Wed, Apr 9, 2008, at 10:33 AM
  • Wow you're right Freedom, school never was, is, or will be about kids. How could I have been so blind for so long?

    -- Posted by mule on Wed, Apr 9, 2008, at 5:22 PM
  • I guess that is the beauty of living in a community. Being a member of a community gives you the privilege of paying for it's upkeep. You know, like everybody else. Nobody likes taxes, it's just a fact of life. People who don't like being part of the "system", being a conformist, paying taxes, etc., those people stockpile a weapons cash and build a cabin in the foothills. We call that tax evasion.

    -- Posted by bond_supporter on Wed, Apr 9, 2008, at 9:35 PM
  • *

    Wow, bond_supporter, what leap you have made. While a family emergency kept me from attending the forum, I doubt that there was little information produced that could have change my mind. While I have never disagreed with the need for improvements within the school district, I have never agreed with the amount. I know some might say I am stuck on the cost of the running track, but both myself and my spouse make a decent wage and the cost of the tracj far exceeds what we make in one year. In fact it comes close to what we make in two years. The question I have is how is something like this, that costs pennies going to improve the education the children of this wonderful community? Maybe you, bond_supporter or mule can answer that one without skirting the issue.

    -- Posted by B Mullen on Wed, Apr 9, 2008, at 10:05 PM
  • Cost of track is $30 thousand. That is from the meeting tonight. That would be 1/1000 of the total cost.

    -- Posted by mule on Wed, Apr 9, 2008, at 10:11 PM
  • My view on the bond is based on the "total package". I'm not dissecting the bond into what would and would not benefit the community, because I do not have the ability to vote on separate parts.

    My vote will go to how the bond is presented to me as a "full product".

    So your question about the track benefitting the education of children, I don't have an answer for that.

    -- Posted by bond_supporter on Wed, Apr 9, 2008, at 11:25 PM
  • Boy...the same 2 people are out for blood once again. The 2 of you miss the boat on most of what is posted. The district claimed record growth in the schools HOWEVER...the numbers do not support the claim. Is this the fault of the "anti" bond people? No! The district did this all on their own. Further, most of us are NOT "anti" bond or against better education for the kids. We are against the high cost for things that would be "nice" but in our eyes, and the eyes of many others, are NOT "needs."

    You are not going to see my side and I really do not see your side and that is the way it is. I am glad that you can afford this now. Good for you that you have done so well. I cannot wait for the next bond for the new elementary school McMurtrey talked about tonight(in 5 years or so). That should probably be 50 million or so...just "pennies" to the district.

    Taxes only go up from here folks. If this passes--there will be no time for regret. It will be a done deal that we will pay for for the next 20 years. At least the kids that will not have homes will have a nice school to attend. It will all work out (come on!).

    Mr. McMurtrey stated that the additions to the school will be very basic...nothing fancy. I am pretty sure the Board's idea of not very fancy and mine differ. It will be interesting to see if this passes and if it does pass...just how "basic" the structure really is. Remember last time...thought it was a high school but it became a junior high. That was a good one indeed!

    Once again it is nice to see that we worry about the seniors and the people on a fixed income. There were at least 2 people at the meeting tonight that will be forced to either sell their homes as a result of this or give their homes back to the bank (one person had to put their home up for sale already). That is a sad fact. Some of us need to work on our sense of "community" before we dare to write about it. Those are the facts.

    This $37 million could be reduced but the district is not able to do that because the ballots are printed, etc. This was not very well thought out but would have probably been very well received at $15 million. Would some be unhappy--probably but not as many as now.

    Looking forward to April 29. For the record, if this bond does not pass this time, it will not be back on the ballot for several years (that is what McMurtrey said). We shall see.

    Remember...vote at the schools NOT the usual place that you vote. The polls will only be at the schools. April 29 is the day.

    Bond Supporter, it was great to see you up front, at the head of the class tonight. It was nice that you and the others made it. It is too bad that more answers could not be provided.

    -- Posted by OpinionMissy on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 12:04 AM
  • If I can't pay off my house or credit cards or even feed myself and family at times why would I want too pay for another tax, thats silly.

    Maybe people who live in those "McMansions" can Im broke, got no more money and be luckly to keep my house, it would be sad too end up back living on the street being the Veteran that I am because of this Mortage and credit and taxation problem we "ALL" are getting stung with, well I should not say all, alot of those "McMansions" like this kind of stuff,,,, that why we have problems,, well not all McMansions folks, some of them do have good loans. few

    -- Posted by Freedom on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 6:41 AM
  • Freedom,

    Cut up your credit cards. I did and don't miss them at all. We have one that we keep in drawer for emergencies.

    -- Posted by mule on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 10:08 AM
  • Mule:

    If only it were that easy regarding the credit cards. People have lost their jobs and live on credit cards because that is all they have. Or, they are on fixed incomes and cannot afford their meds. Whatever the case is--it is not just a matter of doing away with the credit cards. People do not want to live like that. Have a little compassion...dig deep. We are not all like you. Go ahead, tell all of the people on the fixed incomes to budget better. It is hard to budget when you have nothing. Geez!!

    -- Posted by OpinionMissy on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 10:23 AM
  • OpinionMissy,

    It is exactly your attitude that is the problem. You want to have your cake and eat it too. You complain that you don't have enough money, $300 a year for a school. But when it comes down to it, you don't want to make any sacrifices. You and others have become accustomed to getting what you want when you want and a bond for kids that are not yours would interfere with that.

    I know you'll say that there are elderly people on fixed incomes that can't afford this. Well, most of them, if they are as poor as you say, are on a variety of programs that waive a lot of their tax burden. I have an older neighbor in this situation and he pays, literally, a few dollars in state and federal taxes. So let's quit saying everyone is going to loose their homes because that is a lie. The truth is that you and the few vocal bloggers don't want to change your lifestyle and make sacrifices as our parents and grandparents did for us.

    -- Posted by mule on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 2:06 PM
  • Its not going to be the passing of this bond that is going to put people over the edge financially, alot of people are losing their houses because they bought a house that they couldn't afford without doing research on the loans and the choose and adjustable rate or interest only loan and now that their payments went up they can't afford it. I know there are many on fixed incomes me included but we will find a way to make it work

    -- Posted by small town on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 2:34 PM
  • I watch Dave Ramsey every night, my credit cards are a done deal, won't use them again, but I still don't want to give up any money for anymore taxes, Im just taxed out, if the government can't fix the problem with schools without bonds then I think we got a bigger problem than just schools and thats what we should focus on while we're on the right side of the fence before we end up on the left side then it will just be a mess and we won't be able to change anything back ask the other cities in Idaho, man they are sure sorry for all the bonds they sign on too

    -- Posted by Freedom on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 6:39 PM
  • Freedom,

    You and others are quick to point out the flaws of our system, but don't give any ideas on how to fix it. Complain, complain, complain.

    How do you build and repair schools without a bond?

    -- Posted by mule on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 7:07 PM
  • Oh...more words of wisdom from Mule. You know what Mule you are 1/4 correct in what you say. I do not want to change my life for this. I work hard and I work long hours and I am tired of paying more and more money for things like this. We continue to pay and in the end see VERY little or are hit with the hands out the next year for more and more money. So yes, I am tired of it. I work a full time job and then another full time job where I am self-employed. I am pretty tired of having to work harder just to pay it all out in the end in/for taxes.

    I guess that you were in a different room than I was last night because at least 4 people talked about how they were on fixed incomes and COULD NOT afford this bond. But I guess that you hear what you want to hear.

    So, call me selfish or whatever else but I work enough now. At some point I would like a chance to enjoy the things that I do have even if it only for an hour or 2 on Saturday. Not much to ask for considering that I have worked for these things that I have.

    You will not hear me and I am not sure why I even bother but where has all of the money over the years gone? Where is all of the money from all of this building? Where is all of the money from the dairies and the cheese packaging plant that SHOULD have helped this situation? We were all told how great these businesses would be to the area and the economy. What have all of these things done for us? Provided 200 or so jobs. Where is the great tax revenue? This is where I object to paying out MORE money. What is done with what they have received in the past? Where has all of the money gone? Well, they paid a fortune for the WECRD land that sits empty but we are still taxed on it. They gave a huge tax break to get the cheese packaging plant in here. Why? Marathon Cheese can afford to pay but why pay if you can come in for next to nothing. We have spent a fortune to have them here. These are the reasons that WE cannot afford a school. It is not because I or anybody else are selfish and do not want to change the way we live. That is far from the truth but I will not continue to pay when all of this other money is unaccounted for. Do the math as far as the growth and taxes. They have not improved local streets. We have no lights where we need them and holes all over the place. So...where are my tax dollars oh wise one? I guess in that new jail...and for sure that big, empty piece of land.

    With your attitude, you give educators a bad name. How can you teach compassion, tolerance and understanding to children when you yourself cannot comprehend the terms? Must be hard to be SO perfect. I am glad that you have done well for yourself and that your wife can stay home with your children. Good for you! However, not everyone is in your same boat but that cannot be explained to you because you see people on fixed incomes in a much different light. Hey what the heck, they can do without food, their medication and a place to live---those are just extravagant extras.

    What goes around comes around Mule. Just remember that while you point the finger at me...there are 3 fingers pointing right back at you. My grandparents would be proud of me and what I give back to my community and that I stand up for my fellow man and volunteer many hours with the seniors, sick and dying. I am sure your grandparents would love your view about the elderly. It is more than budgets and the credit cards. Do you live in the same reality as the rest of us? I am doubting it very much.

    I am sorry that you think I am so selfish and unwilling to make sacrifices. I am tired of spending and spending and then being asked to spend more. Where is all of the money? In vacant land and tax breaks for rich industry. That is where. If questioning these things make me selfish then so be it. I can own that. However, I will question these things to the bitter end because that is my right and I do not really feel that the answers have been provided. A little here and a little there is not an answer.

    The next time you quote me at least get it right. I did not say that "everyone is going to lose their home." I said that a great many people on fixed incomes (seniors, vets and military) could lose their homes and they have voiced this fact to you. This does not in any way cover "everyone" as you stated I said. You just cannot hear and do not want to hear what they say. Get the facts correct before you spew your dislike please.

    I know you will not hear me on this but I have always agreed that the schools need work just NOT 37 million worth right now. It is just too much. How will you spin that Mule?

    -- Posted by OpinionMissy on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 8:11 PM
  • "How do you build and repair schools without a bond?" (from Mule)

    Hmmmm...maybe tax dollars and the federal monies provided IF they were PROPERLY managed. Then maybe a bond for 10-20 million to make up the rest. This is how they did it before the government over-spending started. Tax money (pre bond that is)...what a thought! Silly me, I though that was why we paid taxes to the schools. What an idea!

    -- Posted by OpinionMissy on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 8:20 PM
  • Wow. Take a chill pill OpinionMissy.

    -- Posted by mule on Thu, Apr 10, 2008, at 8:33 PM
  • mule

    please wake up brother, you've doze off :).

    you asked how do we repair and build our schools without bonds, well you should read all my writings, the answer is there, but too make a long story short, its goes like this.

    Our Government does the Prohibition thing they allow over $ 1.2 TRILLION dollars just to walk across the border into Canada every year, every year!!!!, its called 'Hemp" , thats spelled 'MONEY" ...then OUR Government allows another $ 1 Trillion Dollars to walk across the Nevada border in a thing called "Gaming", thats spelled 'MONEY" .

    While all along our Idaho Government builds prisons, jails, even high pay for and toys for law enforcement, a Boise Police Sgt makes over $ 66.000 a year and look now with the New M16 oh boy what fun, and this make us safe,'HOGWASH" I was in the military over 19 years 10 of which I was paid under $ 700.00 a month.

    The bad thing is when Government does this, Government tells our people well you can't be employed and have wealth because we're doing the prohibition thing and we want to build prisons and jails too control you defective bad American people, oh you so bad you need too be controlled. but what people need too understand that theses so called bad pot smoking evil people at the end of the day our OUR kids that have grown up.

    If Government has the Money to prey on our population of adults for smoking Pot at a rate of 869.000 people a year, 40 MILLION ARRESTED since 1970, well they got money to build and maintain Schools at the highest levels of Education.

    BUT NOoooooooooooooo..

    Mule if you take out Prohibition, Prisons, defective drug laws, Sure Mule,, you're Right and I support you 100 percent.

    But you see most people are uninformed, but smart and can count, thats whats happening here mule, we the people are adding this stuff up and may I say with Joy "WAKING UP.

    So if you want money for Education you don't need to waste tax payers money on bond after bond after bond.

    you need to go talk too Gov. Otter not the tax payer property owner, NO,,, the Government already has our money.

    some people don't like the idea of pot or Gaming, but you know what thats where the moneys at !!! and if you want money for Education its called proper Regulation,,, Regulation , the Answer is sitting Right in front of you, you just don't want it

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, Apr 11, 2008, at 4:34 AM
  • Well said Freedom and jtrotter!

    I also cannot wait till this bond election is over. If it fails...we will be asked to vote again soon. That is when they MAY ask us what we want to pay for.

    If it passes...plan to work harder and longer to pay for it. 20 years to be exact.

    PLEASE do not forget to vote on April 29, 2008. You will vote at the schools NOT (NOT NOT NOT) at your usual place.

    -- Posted by OpinionMissy on Fri, Apr 11, 2008, at 9:43 AM
  • OpionionMissy,

    They will not ask us again soon if the bond. You know that. You were at the meeting. McMurtrey said it would be about two years before they asked again.

    -- Posted by mule on Fri, Apr 11, 2008, at 10:26 AM
  • Cool by then with any luck Gov Otter will wake up, Im sure he understands the issue at hand here and whats going on, if not we may as well hire Mickey Mouse as Gov because the social problems will be so out of control in two years and we'll all be living in a police state what fun.

    I think its called a "Correction" when we Regulate Marijuana/Hemp and Gaming.

    when and If we do that, we won't have a need for Mr McMurtrey and we can let him go.

    what we'll need then is not prisons but a team of finance experts too handle the "SuperFund" that the state of Idaho can draw from too pay for Education/Road/health so we don't tax the poor property owner and his/her grandkids into an early tax payers Grave

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, Apr 11, 2008, at 10:42 AM
  • With Law enforcement carring M16's we can park one eveyday at the State Liquor Store to check IDs for adults too legally buy and hold an OZ of pot, we need too change the Name from State Liquor Store to the First Idaho State Hemp Store, for short we can call it "Hempville" and take the money,"and it will be alot of money and put it in a super fund along with the Gaming and Hemp profits.

    this will do two thing, change peoples habits from hard drink too pot, less drunk drivers and wife beaters and put a heck of alot of money into Road/Schools/health, that will be the day

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, Apr 11, 2008, at 11:27 AM
  • FISH hahahaahah

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, Apr 11, 2008, at 11:28 AM
  • Mule:

    The district and McMurtrey say a lot of things...does not mean it is "fact." They said the same thing the last time and here we are again. History will and does repeat itself as we have witnessed.

    -- Posted by OpinionMissy on Fri, Apr 11, 2008, at 4:54 PM
  • McMurtrey insist Phase II cost will only increase

    see, we don't have the money, I wonder how much my Grandkids will have too pay

    anybody have any better means of getting money, Im all ears, or I should say eyes. I'd really like too know, somebody out there, you got a better Idea, we need money NOW, like cash in hand, not empty IOUs that my Grandkids will have too pay. My plan works folks, ask Canada, California, Nevada, Or, HI, AK and I should not leave out Drug Dealers.

    hey do you good folks think the City of Mountain Home could use 200 or 300 billion dollars a year in cash do you, or do you all just wanna keep walking down this road getting stung by bond bees.

    lets stand up folk and deal with this, lets ask the questions and get answers . why can't this work, the plan we got sure don't and being broke and in prison is not an answer

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, Apr 11, 2008, at 6:35 PM
  • Come on opinionmissy. I've been here five years and this is the first time that they have asked for a bond. Prior to that it was the Junior High in 1995, I believe. So let's not pretend that every six months we are being asked to vote on a another school bond.

    -- Posted by mule on Sat, Apr 12, 2008, at 10:34 AM
  • Ive been here 25 years, been paying taxex for over 40 years, I think overall theres been more than one bond effort. My money in my pocket goes "ching a ding a ding" in the bond bees pockets.

    Its simple, get out of my pocket, leave the wealth of my Grandkids alone. there are other ways too get money in the United States that have a 28 trillion GNP, heck your kids are a trillion dollars in credit card debt.

    if people want more Programs for Education maybe they're in the Wrong state, California have alot of progams you know "One World" maybe people should move there. at 37 million dollars a bond I think we could even afford to pay to move these folks to California and give them a years pay. I don't know why, it works for Idaho prisons when they become overflowed, we have alot of prison inmates in California prisons, why not move people there, its cheaper

    -- Posted by Freedom on Sat, Apr 12, 2008, at 10:57 AM
  • I was talking specifically about school bonds.

    -- Posted by mule on Sat, Apr 12, 2008, at 11:31 AM
  • its all Tax, for bond bees its an Education Bond, for the well informed home owner its just another tax, a pile on top of a pile, at times it clouds a tax payers mind and we don't know what to do about it other than give in, no more, I don't think it will be that easy anymore to make theses bonds.

    So I would say we must find another way and not in two years but NOW, today.

    Our Idaho Government is on the wrong Road and it shows with flying colors and people need too understand that, somebody pays for this junk the Government comes up with, and you know who thats US, well we don't want too pay for it anymore its that simple. if these people in Government don't understand that, that means we need New People, we need another way.

    I'd hate too see a tax payers Revolt over this bond business. however if people in Government don't step up too the plate , well out they go. somebody needs too start telling the Truth in Idaho Government.

    -- Posted by Freedom on Sat, Apr 12, 2008, at 12:28 PM
  • If the school bond does not pass this time...maybe they will let it go for a year or two but I doubt it. I know McMurtrey said it would not be before us again, (if it does not pass) for several years but I do not buy that. We will probably get nailed with the school bond, hospital bond and WECRD all at once.

    We shall see. The 29th is just about here!

    I think if it fails this time, there will be a request for citizen suggestions from the district (and regular citizens not invitation only citizens) for ideas so that it is well received and passes on the next round. That is what should have been done in the first place. Had it been done that way from the start, most of us would be on the same side. I would vote for a $15 million dollar bond without hesitation because the schools do need some work. However, with this 37 million and all of the rest of the stuff this town needs/wants...I just cannot do it. Taxes could easily go up $500.00 in the next year and I am not going to pay that without a fight. Sorry. It is MY money that they "play" with. I have been here for over 10 years and the creative finance needs to stop. We have yet to pay for the last school bond and we are just going to pile on more debt. Why have our elected officials not planned for the future? Where is all of the tax money from previous years and all of the money from recent building, etc.? One needs those answers before we just hand over a blank check. Enough is enough already.

    P & Z in this town says okay to everything without thought. When they had public hearings we told them this would happen. Now it bites us all right in the buns (and the wallet). Some thought with regard to all of this building would have been nice! More houses=more tax dollars and more federal money. Where is all of the money?

    -- Posted by OpinionMissy on Sat, Apr 12, 2008, at 9:18 PM
  • The saddest thing I'll ever do, I think, is to vote No on this particular school bond.

    And I'll answer bond supporter, hoping she/he wasn't trying to be snide on purpose, that it is accidental... Anyway, I believe in paying taxes and supporting the community even if it appears you think people who oppose you on this particular issue are, indeed, tax evaders. You've lost sight of the basic issue again: This particular bond is outrageous. I'll vote for a bond, and willingly, if it makes sense.

    By the way, I don't think we should try to be the same as the Boise area schools. The only things we should be competitive with, as I mentioned at one of the forums, are the salaries of teachers, police officers, and fire staff. We need to keep them here.

    Fees at the golf course and cemetary -- IF THE ONLY REASON TO RAISE THEM is to be on a par with the Boise area -- should not be raised dramatically! I'm ready to listen to some other rationale however.

    But, again, I'll sadly vote No in the current school bond election, and hope another, more sensible one replaces it in six months or a year or so.

    -- Posted by senior lady on Sun, Apr 13, 2008, at 12:33 AM
  • SeniorLady:

    Well stated. It is a sad thing that the district took the stand they did regarding this bond. A little compromise would have gone a long way.

    Midea...where are you?

    -- Posted by OpinionMissy on Sun, Apr 13, 2008, at 5:54 AM
  • "We will probably get nailed with the school bond, hospital bond and WECRD all at once."

    did not somebody write that next will be a 50 million bond effort then maybe the next after that could a 100 million dollar Bond.

    what I have is small wealth, not much and I would like to pass it on too my Grandkids.

    what I think now is maybe to end all this bond business and there's really no other way of ending the tax attack on the property owner is too "Fire" the County Supervisor himself"

    -- Posted by Freedom on Sun, Apr 13, 2008, at 8:19 AM
  • Where is all of the money?

    Ask Nancy Regan and Richard Nixon,"just say no too drugs"

    Our Governement build prisons before Schools 1-99 people are in Prison

    We don't need too change some laws here ???????

    Folks we're on the Road too Nowhere , it would be wise for all of us too wake up.

    I really don't want to pass this kind of Governement down too my Grandkids, M16 carrying "at some point black hooded too" Im sorry, this dog don't hunt

    And whats the Idaho Government doing.

    Sitting on their brains

    if we're NOT on the Road to Nowhere, then everythings OK, you don't need my money so please stop asking me for Special bond money on top of special bond Money, everythings OK , Right

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 4:44 AM
  • Freedom, lay off the crack pipe bro. Your posts are getting too hard to read.

    -- Posted by mrfresh28 on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 10:09 AM
  • hahahaah :)

    people understand what I mean, they Know whats going on, they just need someone too remind them thats all

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 11:03 AM
  • whats happen here is Not a lack of knowledge but a lack of Courage too tell the truth

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 11:06 AM
  • Believe me, I know what's going on bro. I don't need some conspiracy theorist's random thoughts to remind me.

    -- Posted by mrfresh28 on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 11:08 AM
  • ok, you know best

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 12:01 PM
  • wait a minute, I never said there was a conspiracy, I stated Facts, wheres the conspiracy at

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 12:03 PM
  • Just got done talking to a couple, they are going too Vote "NO" Too

    Goodbye Bond

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 3:56 PM
  • I'm ashamed of so many of us citizens letting our beliefs, different from others', result in nasty or personal diatribes. I'll admit to some hurt feelings myself, but I'm actually trying to keep things on a civil, impersonal basis. Both sides should try to keep cool heads even if we feel deeply about the current bond election. Losing our heads doesn't accomplish anything but further hard feelings.

    Freedom of speech is wonderful, but I would hope it's not used as an excuse to be hateful.

    Let's have the election, vote our consciences, and live with the outcome.

    -- Posted by senior lady on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 4:42 PM
  • Yes, Mr. McMurtrey did say a "couple" of years before another bond comes out for the high school. But, he did say that we will probably have to have another elementary school in the future. So as was stated by someone in the video - we will be in perpetual school bonds thru 2028 or longer.

    Also, it's interesting to hear what I DIDN'T hear. I watched the channel 8 video. Mr. McMurtrey kept pointing to other additions/rooms for the school and explaining that IF we have enough money left over we want to add this room and that room.

    If we have enough money left over!!!!! My thinking - You are asking for certain additions. If you think there is a possibility that there may be money left over, then you know that you are asking too much money to do just the regular required add ons. There is a lot of icing in there. It goes back to - I think we need to filet some of the mignon!!!! Trim the fat and get rid of the icing. Anyway - all it does is clog the arteries.

    I would have thought that when presenting the material that the words might have been something similar to: We are anticipating the bond amount will be enough, we know it will be close. If not, then we may have to use the other funds to put the roof on the old gym.

    If it is being anticipated that the total 37 Mil. may not be used for the required rooms then lower the bond / tax amount.

    -- Posted by midea on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 5:36 PM
  • when you do a bond every year trying too stress out the older property owner, you're taking "life" away from them with worry and stress over money and taxes in in a false hope that the bond supports will overwhelm the voter.

    there should be a Law against that, Im surpize that somebody don't sue the Government over this,

    the best thing we could do is send Mr Tim McMurtery Packing.

    If Education need Money so bad, why not talk to the county tax assessor, if the county wants the tax the tax assessor will rise the value of our property. I don't understand the need too have Tim McMurtery,

    I don't want a Government ran by "Bonds"

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 6:43 PM
  • did any body in Government ever check too see if this Bond business is Even "Constitutional", its double this triple tax that, its got too be UnConstitutional

    -- Posted by Freedom on Mon, Apr 14, 2008, at 6:57 PM
  • I love small towns! It is great to log-on and read the ramblings of the informed citizenry. You have to be the most entertaining group of individuals in this hemisphere. Thank you for providing all who venture here the comic relief that is needed to ease the stress of a busy day in Mountain Home. If you have paid attention to any of the propaganda from the district you will know that an increase of $3,000,000 has occurred due to soaring construction costs since the earlier bond was run. This may be the only opportunity for this event to happen. If you do not want it, then vote against it. If you are in favor of it, vote for it. It is that simple. Yes or No. And those of you who cannot spell McMurtrey correctly need to remember that this individual is only an employee of the district. Why would you place blame on him for the situation that currently exists? He has five (5) individuals who employ him, and they are elected by who? (Guess - you!) I would recommend that you begin to understand the process prior to bringing scorn to an individual only trying to do his job. You all have given your thoughts, here are mine.

    -- Posted by hickwithatick on Tue, Apr 15, 2008, at 4:10 PM
  • Midea, welcome back; we missed you. Good posting re "left over" funds!

    I think folks should leave Freedom alone; he is hurting. Maybe he's venting and then some, but there are some truths to what he says. I don't agree with everything he says, myself, but I gave up the bias against poor spelling years ago (when I learned the embarassing truth that I too misspell some things, some times) and learned that there are a lot of really intelligent, educated people who are admired by lots of folks and yet just can't spell. And typing? I can be a really bad speller here.

    The mockery against Freedom and the rest of us is shameful. We do take our postings seriously.

    That reminds me. Mr fresh, dear, please stop pushing his buttons. Freedom doesn't understand, apparently, how much you enjoy doing that, that our ideas and conflicts are amusing to you, no more, no less. A truce, maybe?

    -- Posted by senior lady on Tue, Apr 15, 2008, at 6:04 PM
  • LOL, a truce senior lady? You act as if this is real life, when it's simply an Internet forum. I will continue to voice my opinion, and if it differs from freedom's, so be it.

    And when you say that your ideas and conflicts are amusing to me, you are only half right. The world is amusing to me, only because I read about what goes on it on a daily basis. With so much chaos, I choose to laugh at the world instead of being angered by it.

    Finally, I may not be the greatest speller either, but how hard is it to formulate a complete sentence? It doesn't matter to me how well people can spell, I was simply trying to point out that random, one line posts with little or no punctuation are very hard to read. Cheers!

    -- Posted by mrfresh28 on Wed, Apr 16, 2008, at 10:56 AM
  • Sorry -- pretty sensitive right now. Lots of us are taking time out of our busy lives to share our thoughts, all of us with the good of the kids and the community in mind, on both sides of the school bond issue. It matters to us, no matter which side we're on.

    At my age, computers in general and the internet in particular have proven to be wonderful and yet difficult to even get my toe wet in, much less be proficient in. (Poor grammar but I can't think right now how to say it differently.) I don't know how many times I tried to use this forum before it worked out, and still I hit the wrong keys sometimes.

    Some of us don't have a background in writing. And when the tendonitis flares up it's even harder; the keyboard is not user-friendly at all. Young folks take it all for granted, and that's completely understandable: it's a totally known and basic way of life to them.

    Sometimes moods do need to be lightened a bit, and sometimes making light of something just doesn't work well at all.

    But we all care about something. Even mr fresh cares about his own dog's maligned breed, if I remember correctly, and wrote eloquently and rightly about the reality of owners who haven't trained or socialized their animals properly.

    I'm just asking for young folks in general to be patient when we get frustrated at things and don't express ourselves literately. Or don't hit the right keys, or whatever. Or believe that sometimes there are more important things in life than spelling mistakes (which, I must confess, with incorrect plurals and possessives, are my particular pet peeves and biases).

    But I'm trying myself not to be that judgmental any more. I make too many mistakes myself to judge others, anyway. So I'm sorry about it when I still do. Please accept my apology.

    -- Posted by senior lady on Thu, Apr 17, 2008, at 7:12 AM
  • Absolutely no apology needed senior lady, at least not for me. I respect your opinions and believe that opinions are not something we should ever have to apologize for.

    -- Posted by mrfresh28 on Thu, Apr 17, 2008, at 2:31 PM
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