Voters approve school levy by 72.5 percent in huge turnout

Thursday, May 27, 2010

A massive turnout of voters overwhelmingly approved the Mountain Home School District's request for a temporary supplemental levy Thursday, with 2,621 district patrons voting yes to only 992 voting no.

The vote authorizes the school district to levy $2.8 million in each of the next two years if necessary, averting a major funding crisis and saving the district's extracurricular programs.

Despite the levy's approval, the district will still slash over a million dollars from its budget and teachers will see a 4 percent cut in pay while district administrators will take a 6.5 percent cut in pay.

"I have never been so glad to take a 6.5 percent pay cut in my life," said James Gilbert, the assistant superintendent of schools, as he breathed a sigh of relief at the final tally.

Voter turnout was heavy throughout the day at all of the schools in Mountain Home, with long lines that stretched outside the buildings at times at both East and North Elementary, where extra ballots had to be delivered during the day to meet the demand. At East alone, 125 voters were registered on election day.

The final total was over 400 votes greater than that cast in the entire county during Tuesday's primary election.

"We had a great group of people who took on this project and made it their own," school board Chairman Jim Alexander said, referring to alumni and high school students, especially the seniors, who had worked hard to encourage passage of the levy.

"I think thanks to those people, this community is closer than it ever has been before. The energy out there was palpable. Any time you win by 72.5 percent, for any election, that's phenomenal and speaks highly to the people of this community."

Superintendent Tim McMurtrey echoed those thoughts.

"It's obvious the community cares.

"I am proud of this community, the kids, the teachers and the staff.

"Everyone realized we were in a crisis situation and had to do something. People were concerned about the education of the kids, and realized that extra-curricular activities play a vital role in developing well-rounded students."

Had the levy failed, the district would have had to slash programs to the bone, including cutting all extra-curricular activities, one of the factors that had energized students to become heavily involved in the election. Passage saved those programs.

Unofficial returns Thursday night showed the following results from each school voting site:

North Elementary-- 663 yes, 286 no (with two spoiled ballots).

East Elementary -- 499 yes, 256 no.

West Elementary -- 392 yes, 160 no.

Hacker Middle School -- 326 yes, 121 no.

Mountain Home Junior High School -- 287 yes, 93 no.

Mountain Home High School -- 454 yes, 76 no.

Comments
View 73 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Was pretty easy to pass seeing how the majority of voters won't be paying for it! Who will bail me out when I can't make my mortgage payments, can I pass a levy to pay my bills as well, can't believe this town...

    -- Posted by Moanah on Thu, May 27, 2010, at 11:35 PM
  • Moanah- Get over it.

    -- Posted by MGMH on Thu, May 27, 2010, at 11:37 PM
  • Moanah is that MOAN with an ah? I am thinking so and I agree with MGMH. I can believe this town and I LOVE IT.

    -- Posted by MHsupporter on Thu, May 27, 2010, at 11:41 PM
  • let me guess, one of the non property owners?

    -- Posted by Moanah on Thu, May 27, 2010, at 11:43 PM
  • Of coarse it passed... I knew it would pass property owners were out numbered !!

    -- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, May 27, 2010, at 11:46 PM
  • Can anyone say landside victory?

    A super majority victory at that!!

    Conversely......a crushing defeat for PM,CP, BaZOOkaman(who served in Nam BTW) and others.

    -- Posted by Pale Ale on Thu, May 27, 2010, at 11:49 PM
  • Did any of you see the electric signs at the intersection of North 2nd Street East and Jackson Street (Wells Fargo Bank) or at Railroad Park at North Main Street and East 2nd Street North.

    The signs first displayed the vote. Then they announced the state championships...

    While I am impressed with these kids that do so well...I am equally dismayed that thousands have been exposed to very deliberate messages to garner support.

    If these signs are city property...there's going to be some problems....

    -- Posted by MacInIdaho on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 12:35 AM
  • *

    I am a property owner and I voted yes. And it affects my taxes more, than most since the homeowners exemption only covers the first acre of my land...

    It is done and it is a one time thing for me. If they come out two years from now and ask for more, then my answer will be no.

    What is with slamming others for their beliefs??? If people went and voted whether yes or no at least they did their civic duty and that has to be respected.

    -- Posted by Conservative on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 12:35 AM
  • I think it is great the the levy passed. I am a concerned single working home owning mom and very involved in my son's school life. Many of the High School kids here in Mountain Home are absolutely amazing and I think they deserve a chance at a quality education. I am sure the younger kids are just as great. Thank you residents for caring about these kids

    -- Posted by EJ's mom on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 6:46 AM
  • 72.5% that means statistically a large number of homeowners were in favor of the levy.

    I am a homeowner, I support and voted for the levy.

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 6:52 AM
  • liberals, oh Im sorry Progressives. there where 3 million dollars in SUV's in West Elem Parking lot alone. why again do you go too your neighbor with you palms out.?? oh Progressives , oh ok

    the Tax and Rake Plan,

    Modern Progressivism

    you need this money for What,,, sell your SUV and pay for yourself

    Whats next, when is the next Tax going to coming rolling along from Progressives.

    I can see now where the City of Mountain Home future is, Progressivism

    Socialist Mountain Home, shame on you

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 7:01 AM
  • I too am a home owner. My spouse and I both voted for it my parents voted for it and they too are home owners. None of us have kids that live at home or in this county. It's a two year levy not a life time levy. Many people waste $13.95 a month on junk so why not help the future of the kids.. as someday they are the ones who are going to have to take care of all of us.. I am very proud of people of Mt home coming together and support our school district.

    -- Posted by lovemthome on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 7:19 AM
  • I am retired, on a fixed income, and a homeowner. I voted YES! Someone paid for your education! It is time to pay it on!

    -- Posted by Loving Retired Life on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 7:36 AM
  • I am a homeowner and I voted yes! While I don't relish an increase in my taxes I do value the teachers in this community and the great job they do educating our children.

    -- Posted by swmom on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 7:58 AM
  • I, too, am very proud of the community for passing this levy. The kids needed it! I am a homeowner and currently have children in the schools, BUT we are moving, as my husband is in the military. HOWEVER, we will still be homeowners in this community and therefore will still pay the tax! Guess what? I STILL SUPPORT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS! I agree with Loving Retired Life, quit griping and pay it forward!!!

    -- Posted by americanbelle28 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:00 AM
  • If People feel so strong about having taxes and levys for local schools. Pay for it, Mmm lets see

    oh Retired older People, oh they won't mind giving up some social Security, lets not forget Veterans, heck they don't mind giving up some bennies to pay for sports at the local school and think of it "support you local school" SELL YOUR HOUSE AND SLEEP ON THE STREET" that may help too

    at least !!!! sell your SUVs you have sitting in your driveways , boats too

    YOU DO WANT TOO HELP SCHOOLS DON'T YOU ?????????

    this in a one time levy,, HOGWASH and Im being nice

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:02 AM
  • I also voted yes, but have been critical of the way the SB has handled this and past situations. I also went to all the school board meetings I was able to attend and asked questions, some I got answers for and some I got the run around on. I also have blogged that I don't think it fair that everyone can vote to for something that doesn't affect everyone. I also blogged my feelings on the land issue, and the deceptive way this whole thing was publicized. But my biggest concern is they have no plan for the future. What are they going to do in two years? I bet they will be back sending the kids out with panic on their lips, I hate the way the kids where used as pawns by the SB and teachers, and before you jump on this I have the teachers name, subject, date he told my son to run home and spread the message when he should have been teaching the subject he was hired to. I voted yes not because of the SB or teachers but for the kids, but the next tax or next time they come around they are getting a NO and I will be voting against or campaigning against every SB member I can except one. Everyone has a right to express their thoughts I just hope the socialist, communistic progressives don't gloat over this financial mess that our governments and local School district got into.

    -- Posted by Retirmentcanbefun on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:03 AM
  • Moanah, Nope a property owner for 14 years along with business and parent of 4 children, one out of school and 3 more in school. I just support and love my town. That is how we are different.

    -- Posted by MHsupporter on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:04 AM
  • Well thats too bad that the levy passed. As a homeowner I for one cannot afford an increase in my mortgage payment like alot of other people in this town. I have given up alot of luxuries just to afford my home and what with this levy and the mistake earlier this year on taxes I for one am prepared to walk away from my home. You say on a $200,000.00 house it will be an additional $20.00. How many can come up with that extra $20.00 out of a already tight budget. All those people that voted YES should be the ones to pay not the NO voters or the ones that didn't vote. I totally agree with Monah.

    -- Posted by transplanted on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:13 AM
  • Freedom---Give me a break, veterans seem to be doing quite well in my neighborhood, 2 or more cars, boats, RVs, and ATVs. I surely do not see any destitute veterans around me.

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:18 AM
  • Freedom is sooooooo angry, yet he continues to live in the town he rues.

    And as for Transplanted, maybe if you had stayed within your means on your house purchase you would not be worried about a tax increase of $20.00, it is that kind of overextending that helped the country get into the wall street financial mess.

    I bought a house below my means 1480 square feet, $13.00 month is no problem.

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:26 AM
  • You rock Mountain Home! Way to see beyond the "conspiracy theorists" in M.H. and vote what's right! Now the country won't view us as a bunch of uneducated, red-neck Idahoans...but a small town that believes in the importance of education and higher learning. Very "PROGRESSIVE" indeed! ;)

    I am so proud!

    I own my own house, and have many acres of extra land that will put me in a higher paying bracket than most...but I'm willing to do my part to keep our students and teachers on track. I just have to give up lattes and fast-food for a while...better for me anyway. Good thing I don't have a nasty cigarette habit to give up...that would save a person lots of $$$...and their lungs!!

    :)

    -- Posted by mhgirl on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 8:42 AM
  • I'm not sure why the news said it was a high turnout there are a lot more people that live here and a lot more home owners that didn't vote.

    I'm not sure how the 2.8 Mill is going to work, maybe someone can help me. I no longer am good with numbers.

    How many home owners do we have? and then how do you figure the value of the homes to come out to 2.8 Mill?

    -- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 9:16 AM
  • I know ButtzookaMan, isn't life Grand.

    There's a party goin on right here, a celebration to last throughout the years.

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 9:22 AM
  • Isn't it wonderful to know that we have the FREEDOM to agree to disagree. That we can each voice our opinion, (quit loudly sometimes) without the fear of retrobution. And by the way, every OPINION is correct, and every God feering(or not) American has the right to one. I wish though that this could be done in a more civilized manner. No need for name calling, snide remarks and/or comments. I challenge each of you bloggers to act with more respect to one another and their feelings. I remember my mother teaching me a little thing call the "Golden Rule". Maybe this would be a good place to use said rule. Its a little disappointing when children read these blogs and wonder how people can be so mean and hateful to one another. Maybe we should put the children in charge, they might teach us a thing or two. Can't wait for the next subject that will let us each voice our OPINIONS. I'am glad that we each have the FREEDOM to do just that.

    Opinions.... Main Entry: opin·ion

    Pronunciation: \ə-ˈpin-yən\

    Function: noun

    Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin opinion-, opinio, from opinari

    Date: 14th century

    1 a : a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.

    I hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. Oh and by the way please remember what this weekend is all about. It goes back to the whole FREEDOM thing.

    God Bless!!

    -- Posted by Auctionhunter on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 9:34 AM
  • $13.95 a month--- that about 4 moxie from Moxie a month..case of beer..4 mixed drinks from the local bar.. 1 dinner at Aj's.. 2 meals at McDonalds or Wendy's. 2 breakfast at Joe's. 1 or 2 bottles of alcholo from the Liquor store. 1 haircut. 1 day less at Roaring springs. 1 less trip to boise to shop. There is maybe things we can cut out to make sure the kids of Mt. home get what the pass kids got, eductaion. and even thou the Levy is PASSED those teachers and Admin are STILL taking a paycut..

    -- Posted by lovemthome on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:12 AM
  • For all you NO VOTERS who keep saying that the $20 a month is way too much for you. I bet most of you have a flat screen TV, or an XBOX 360, how about you renting movies, or eating out... Instead of buying steak at the grocery store buy something just a bit cheaper. I am sure the ones who voted NO are sitting at Moxie right now enjoying their Latte. I honestly cant image the thinking of the ones who voted no. This is our youth, OUR FUTURE we are talking about. We as a community and Americans should do whatever it takes to ensure that the future is a future for the youth.

    -- Posted by jstsmile on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:25 AM
  • Wow, now we have folks telling others what to cut from there daily routine, what to buy from the store...next there will be suggestions for people to buy cheaper car so that they can afford the current and future taxes coming their way.....

    People have a lot of nerve....lol

    If those that are suggesting these ideas are not currently giving every penny they have to the school system, then you may be part of the problem and not the solution!

    -- Posted by reallycurious on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:38 AM
  • For All You "YES VOTERS

    you could have grouped together and sold your SUVs. at least "NO VOTERS" are honest about the whole tax issue. They may drink alot of java and eat steak but

    like JD WENTWHERE says "Its My Money And I'll Spend it where I Want".

    they don't run around asking for higher taxes then drive home from the Polls in an SUV.

    they drive their SUVs to the Polls and Vote "NO".

    Thats being Honest!

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:49 AM
  • Ok..so it passed..in the future if MH want's to put another levy, then everyone should pay. Let's be fair and put it on the car registrations, then EVERYONE would pay, even the people who don't own property but is so eager for property owners to pay for their principles.

    There were kids in front of me voting, and you know darn well they don't own property or will pay the tax. In fact they will be leaving MH as soon as they can graduate..

    When everyone has to pay, let's see how far the vote goes then...

    -- Posted by Britgirl on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:52 AM
  • See this article on Treasure Valley homes.

    http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/05/28/1209311/can-home-values-really-fall-low...

    I urge property owners to have their homes reassessed...the lower valuation will lower your taxes...so the school will come up short again.

    Then what?

    I can't wait for those folks who own property and could not sell it when they left see their new tax bill...they don't get the exclusion.

    Folks like jstsmile...DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME HOW I CAN SPEND MY MONEY...I WORKED FOR IT...NOT YOU! DON'T YOU TELL THE ELDERLY WHO CAN'T AFFORD MEDICINE ITS ONLY $20. DON'T YOU TELL THE DIVORCED MOM OF 3 KIDS ITS ONLY $20...ITS OUR FREAKING MONEY...NOT YOURS!

    How 'bout the next time I'm in McDonald's I order...and you pay.

    YOU DON'T GET IT...The government...supported by uneducated entitled voters like you are going to keep raising taxes on the backs of ALL OF US.

    YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!

    -- Posted by MacInIdaho on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:57 AM
  • jstsmile

    Thank you for sharing your input and budget smarts to the NO VOTERS... I have a flat screen tv thats paid for, NO XBOX never played the games, Rent movies occasionally, don't eat out, buying a steak to cook at home is splurging to us. Only been to Moxie once and that was when it first opened up. I receive Social Security and Medicare and have a few health issues, but I sew and knit for extra income

    I have raised 5 children + other peoples kids, and out of my children 3 went to college without scholarships, they never got into trouble because they didn't play sports and etc. They worked when in HS and paid for their own clothes and shoes.

    -- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:59 AM
  • As for the comment for transplanted I did buy a house within my means. When I first bought the house I could well afford it. But with tax increases, gas increases, power, food prices climbing and everything else going up the great american dream of owning a home has become a nightmare. I only buy discounted meats and clothing. I gave up my phone service. We get stuck with more taxes at a time when hours are cut so wages are lower. So for that comment I did buy within my means at the time. I wonder how many of those renters that voted YES will think this levy is a good thing if they get a rent increase to cover the extra taxes. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm time will tell.

    -- Posted by transplanted on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:59 AM
  • actually MHsupporter or "namecaller" I was'nt addressing you and was'nt asking for your opinion on my OPINION! Have a great day...

    -- Posted by Moanah on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 11:11 AM
  • completely agree MHsupporter. support the youth after all they are the future!!!

    -- Posted by MGMH on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 11:14 AM
  • SWMom, couldn't have said it better!!!

    -- Posted by MGMH on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 11:22 AM
  • My situation is similar to transplanted when I bought my home 12 years ago, I did buy within my means and I am a widow with two boys still at home, a ONE income family that does not want to lose my home before I ever have a chance to sell it after my sons are grown and I can move. STOP with the name calling and telling people how to spend their hardearned money, folks that don't pay should not have the RIGHT to FORCE us homeowners to pay!

    -- Posted by Moanah on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 11:23 AM
  • Cantjustwatch,

    Awesome post! I hope those that voted "YES" really study the numbers you provided and come to realize that this town cannot afford those salaries. The one I did not see was the superintendents salary. Between that one and the Asst Sup, their salaries are approx 200K combined to run six schools.

    This school system here in MH needs to be completely revamped to allow them to operate within their means. I can see now why they panicked when the money from the state and fed government stopped.

    Good luck in only having to pay two years for this levy.....you bet that this one will be with the kids for the rest of their lives!!!

    -- Posted by reallycurious on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 11:45 AM
  • cantjustwatch

    Many thanks for posting that :) No wonder they were using scare tactics. Maybe the teachers & administrators will kick in some money to fix the floor at the HS that's about to cave in and buy new books and desks where needed

    -- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 12:00 PM
  • cantjustwatch. I have thought about this long and hard. I have read your other posts, some where quite enlightening. Others where just plain out there, for example this one. By your blog, it seems you want everyone employed by the school district to either work for free or at least below minimum wage. By as ignorant as you seem, its probably working for free. In case you haven't figured it out, education costs money, your's, mine, the community's. But you're probably happy being an ignorant moron! Nothing's free in life.

    Please keep this in mind when cutting back on education. I'm sure everyone has come across a teenagers or young adult working as a cashier. You buy merchandise, it totals $7.75. You give the cashier a twenty and you say make it two fives. Then you get that deer in the headlight look from the cashier. You, as the customer, have to explain to the cashier how to make change. Now change that to you're in the nursing home and that "change" is your medication. I think you would want someone who knows how to at least count.

    FYI. The numbers you posted are on the low end, since Idaho is towards the bottom, when it comes to education.

    -- Posted by GFYS69 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 12:14 PM
  • FYI. The numbers you posted are on the low end, since Idaho is towards the bottom, when it comes to education.

    If those numbers are on the low end, then they are not doing bad in the salary dept, especially only working 8 or 9 months of the year.

    Teachers are very important, but so is the bottom line of what this community can afford.

    -- Posted by reallycurious on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 12:41 PM
  • For those that are uneducated, those salaries may seem high but for those of us who have gone to college for up to 8 years or more, those salaries barely cover the cost of paying for student loans. I for one, spend up towards $2000 a year on classroom supplies out of what little money I take home after taxes. I tell you, I will not be spending that amount next year because I will be getting a part-time job to cover the at least $300 a month I will be losing. Could you live on $300 less a month on your minimum wage job? I have given up my cable, gym membership, and anything else that is disposable but it won't be enough to make up for the reduction. So, from this "overpaid" educator to you, I am definitely not overpaid. I have been teaching for 12 years now and deserve every penny of that and even more!!!

    -- Posted by janetwaggoner on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 12:42 PM
  • Ladies and Gentlemen...here is the overall "bottom-line"..We as a community shouldn't have been in this situation in the first place. You all keep missing the point. When it comes down to a community pairing off with each other, neighbor vs neighbor it's a sad state of affairs.

    Had our ELECTED STATE OFFICIALS had a backbone, they would have allocated the funds necessary for our public schools to function, and NOT leave it to the countless communities around the state to fend for themselves.

    It was 'cowardly' and without heart what our state legislature along with Mr Otter have done. Like it or not...our schools depend on state and federal funds to survive. If you want quality education along with quality facilities, you need to PAY UP! Isn't that what matters when it comes to our children.

    Since Mr. Otter and crew took over this state, they have had a agenda to get rid of the funding of state public education. I along with many are all about tighting the belt and fiscal responsibility, but to the expenses of our children? That's shameful and without remorse.

    All Mr. Otter and the legislature has done is to divide countless communites throughout the state and put public education in the toliet.

    I'm a property owner, like many of you, and I and my family live on a budget, but when it comes to quality of life issues, like education, I am willing to make the sacrifice. I am sick and tired of all of the whinning and crying over how much they distrust the school administration, and the school board and teachers....on and on and on.

    You want to take a stand, you need to target your elected officials in Boise, not the school administration. You have the power to make a change come November and vote Otter and the rest of his left wing cronnies out of office.

    Those of you who think that teachers are making a killing...look again, with the amount of education, certifications that are required, you Mr. Tax payer are getting a bargain. The starting salary of a new teacher here is less then $35,000 a year, try to live on that when paying off four, five or maybe six years of college. Your lucky the teachers union understands the situation, but don't expect them to have their teachers take in the pants much longer...they will eventally draw a line in the sand, as well they should.

    Some of you who wrote about socialism and the other far left wing crapp, give me a break! Stop watching FOX network and biget Rush Limbaugh. Stop spinning this about left and right...it has too do with what's RIGHT. I am simply amazed on some off the non-sense written in this blog...are you seriously thinking that their is some subversive socialist plot invovled with this levy???

    Those of you who wrote that...you need to seek medical attention or better yet, check yourself into Intermountain Mental Facility in Boise...you are apparently off your meds.

    Lastly, for those of you who voted YES...you made the only choice we had to secure the future of our children...for those of you who voted NO...your priorities are confused with your policticial beliefs. It's not about politics, it's about CHILDREN and their future.

    Get a clue for christ sakes..open your eyes, and clear your head, the truth is out there...I for one am very proud of this community, but let's hope we as a community will not have to go through this again. Hopefully by then, we have elected the right people to lead or state that have courage and the willingess to make the right choies, we can only hope and pray...but it's all up to YOU, the voters of this great state.

    God bless our nation, state and our community.

    -- Posted by DUMBFOUNDED IN IDAHO on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 12:46 PM
  • Not saying you do not deserve every penny of it. If the community you live and work in can not afford it, then salary is a moot point. Yes I am a well educated person and make about the same as a teacher does. I do not consider my salary minimum wage by no means. I also understand what can be afforded and what cannot.

    -- Posted by reallycurious on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 12:51 PM
  • You need to stop and think people. The staff of the district are taking a double whammy on this levy. We pay taxes here too and we are also losing 4% of our salaries. I am not a teacher. I own a home and I pay taxes. I voted yes. And I am happy I did. I will give up something to make up for the lose of the 4% and the increase in my taxes but at least the kids will be able to stay here and get a good education. The employees of the district gave before the community was even asked to. For those of you who think teachers make so much money stop to think about the time they put in when school is not in session. They have papers to grade, lesson plans to make up and most volunteer at the after school sports in one way or another. I know that most teachers spend their own money in their classrooms for these students that don't come to school with necessary equipment.

    -- Posted by concerned employee on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 1:13 PM
  • The school employee who was going to loose $300 per month, should be happy because she is still making over $6 K permonth. And we all know the school employees voted for it. I don't think being a property owner was a requirement to vote. You just needed to be registered.

    -- Posted by gmoney on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 1:27 PM
  • Alot of people not just the teachers have taken a pay cut and some more than 4% and they are barely hanging on. Some of those jobs listed could be combined or eliminated and spread that money around equally to the teachers who really deserve it. Does the library person really need to make more than a teacher? I think not. Shameful!

    -- Posted by transplanted on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 1:30 PM
  • For starters, I am not telling anyone how to spend their money. Yes that is YOUR money! And this is exactly the problem, it is YOUR money and you are not willing to give YOUR money to the children. I am an SUV owner and I tell you one thing, that if it was going to save the childrens education and future I would be more than willing to sell my SUV, so all YOU NO VOTERS, can spend YOUR money on whatever YOU want!!!!!!!

    DUMBFOUNDED IN IDAHO is exactly correct....

    "for those of you who voted NO...your priorities are confused with your policticial beliefs. It's not about politics, it's about CHILDREN and their future"

    This is not about how little money you have at the end of the month, there are ALWAYS ways you can ensure that $20 is there. This is about YOU NO VOTERS wanting to spend the money on what YOU want to spend it on.

    What happened to the world?? Arent we supposed to help others out?? Arent we supposed to ensure our children have better lives and a better future??? All you NO VOTERS keep saying that us YES voters should have read all the information and evaluated all the facts. I will tell you one thing, we did. We looked at what we needed to do for THE CHILDREN, not what is best for us, what is best for THE CHILDREN....PERIOD!!!

    As far as the teachers and administrations salary. I think they 100% deserve every penny and more. They might be making more than the average person in Mountain Home. However, they spend a lot of their money on supplies for children and again, they are here to help the children.

    -- Posted by jstsmile on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 1:39 PM
  • Those $50,000 classroom teacher positions jobs are for 15+ years experience with a Masters degree.

    The 30 thousands are for beginning first years of teaching.

    I would have to ask--What should a teacher with 15-20 years experience be making?

    What is a bachelors degree worth

    What is a masters degree worth

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 1:54 PM
  • We voted our heart. Now that the short term issue is addressed what are we going to do to long-term? Someone tell me why we don't increase the state sales tax so all can share in this crisis? I voted yes because it was the only option provided to resolve this issue. I beleive it is time to ask Tim Corder and other state reps what they are going to do to make sure all of us contribute to our needs and not just the property owners. There are alot more renters than owners receiving these essential services.

    -- Posted by BIGblind on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 2:26 PM
  • Now that we all voted our heart, it is time to figure out what we are going to do to fix the long-term issues. I voted yes because that was the only option I had to resolve this important issue. I believe it is time to ask Tim Corder and other state reps what they are going to do to fix this. I wonder why a sales tax is not used, that way all of us would contribute to fix the problem and not a minority. I am fully aware that there are a lot more renters than owners receiving the vital services this levy provides. We cannot continue to do more with less, it just doesn't work that way.

    -- Posted by BIGblind on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 2:35 PM
  • The HS Principal makes more money then our Chief of Police.....

    -- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 2:55 PM
  • If you look at the information available through the Idaho Department of Labor at http://lmi.idaho.gov/ the wages/salaries shown throughout this blog are not necessarily out of line. Especially for tenured teachers and professionals.

    The average individual with a Bachelor's Degree in Idaho makes about $56,181.00 (based on 2009 data)

    An average person with a Master's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree with extensive work experience in Idaho makes about $72,550.00 (based on 2009 data)

    -- Posted by Albert Clement on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 3:20 PM
  • These Are The Guys we Should Be after:

    The The Ten Wealthiest Financiers in America Are Not Worth $900,000 an Hour

    Dear Messrs, Tepper, Soros, Simons, Paulson, Cohen, Icahn, Lampert, Griffin, Arnold and Falcone,

    It's now estimated that about 150,000 teachers will lose their jobs next year because of the financial crisis touched off by your industry.

    On behalf of the 3 million young people who would have been their students, I have a proposition for you: Donate 50 percent of your 2009 earnings to keep those 150,000 teachers in their classrooms. Each of you, on average, still would net over $935 million dollars for the year (you should be able to scrape by on that) -- and the money you'd forgo would ensure that 3 million kids would get an education.

    That the ten of you personally received $18.7 billion (not million) from your hedge fund proceeds in 2009 is quite a feat, given that it was the worst economic year since the Great Depression. You each got roughly $36 million a week -- over $900,000 an hour! Meanwhile, as result of the Wall Street shenanigans you helped engineer, 29 million Americans are now without work or forced into part-time jobs.

    While you may not feel personally responsible for the crash, you do bear some responsibility since you are major players in the financial industry. (Funny how no one is accepting responsibility for the financial crisis.) As Leo Hindery Jr. put it, your industry is a

    "profit-driven, greedy, selfish institution that, with its unbridled compensation practices and current light-touch regulatory regime is, I truly believe, behind almost every major societal and economic ill that has befallen the United States since 1980."

    As you know, you probably would have earned little or nothing in 2009 if the American taxpayer hadn't bailed out the entire financial system. That $18.7 billion you collected didn't fall from the sky. Fearing another great depression, we poured nearly $10 trillion into the financial sector in the form of loans, liquidity programs, asset guarantees and the like. Those taxpayer subsidies should have gone to enhancing the public good, not pumping up obscene levels of private gain. Instead the net result of our mammoth rescue effort is that 150,000 teachers are laid off while you collect more than $36 million a week.

    It's a troubling saga of public decay: Your high-flying financial manipulations helped bring down our economy. Millions of people lost their jobs and were no longer able to pay taxes; businesses everywhere went under. And now state and local governments are going broke and slicing their budgets. Tens of thousands of teachers are losing their jobs. (Those of you who live in New Jersey are watching this play out with a vengeance, as school programs are slashed to the bone.) Meanwhile, you walk away with billions, courtesy of U.S. taxpayers.

    I challenge you to explain this story to your children or to anyone else who isn't on your payroll. How can you justify making more than $900,000 an hour in an industry that is essentially responsible for the loss of 150,000 teachers?

    Not to pick on you, Mr. Tepper, but you led the list by earning $4 billion in 2009. That's more than $1.9 million an hour, or $32,000 per minute. You earn more in one minute than the average entry-level teacher earns in one year! Please explain.

    You personally can do something about this insanity. You can prevent the further deterioration of our public educational system. You can let America know that you are willing to right a wrong.

    You know better than anyone else in the country how truly fortunate you are. And you know that you can easily afford to put thousands of teachers back to work, shoring up the public educational system that is at the core of our democracy. And let's be honest, you can cough up $9 billion and still be wealthier than the pharaohs.

    In a saner world, we would have placed a 50 percent windfall profits tax on all financial earnings in 2009. That would have helped compensate for the massive public subsidies we provided to your industry. It would have replenished our local, state and federal coffers. But as a nation we are cowed by financial power. We simply do not have the will to challenge our distorted distribution of wealth -- at least not yet. However, with the stroke of a pen, you can help rebalance the scales.

    In truth, I don't expect you to rise to this challenge. I suspect that if you see this letter, you will come up with a thousand and one reasons to dismiss my request. Some of you might point out that you are already giving hundreds of millions to charities and educational institutions. Or maybe you'll just be miffed that someone like me has the gall to make such an outrageous proposition. But it's not me that you need to think about. You need to think about those 150,000 teachers and the 3 million kids who won't be learning from them next year. Your wealth will have little value if the society around you crumbles.

    The time may come when the American people demand a modicum of financial justice and economic sanity. This would require something far beyond the current financial reform, which is basically a gift to Wall Street and your hedge funds. (After all, under this legislation, you'll still be able to pay only 15 percent tax on your earnings, which is virtually criminal given our revenue shortfalls.)

    The time may come when we stop allowing financiers to earn billions while we gut our public infrastructure. I don't know when that will be or how we'll get there. But if you keep piling up your billions with no concern for the American people, you might just hasten the day when an angry and determined public comes knocking on your door.

    Better you should put our teachers back to work. No?

    P.S. If you employ those 150,000 teachers, I'll donate the royalties from my latest book, The Looting of America. After all, you're part of the reason the book keeps selling.

    Les Leopold is the author of The Looting of America: How Wall Street's Game of Fantasy Finance destroyed our Jobs, Pensions and Prosperity, and What We Can Do About It Chelsea Green Publishing, June 2009.

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 5:42 PM
  • *

    My hope is that now the levy has passed, we can get things in order in the district so that when those monies are gone we're better positioned to deal with the running the schools without cutting teachers and raising taxes. We have two years to turn things around.

    -- Posted by VicVega on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 5:43 PM
  • Right on the mark VicVega!!

    -- Posted by MHdog-gone on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 6:05 PM
  • Socialist

    -- Posted by Freedom on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 6:21 PM
  • Thank you for the figures, Mr. Clement. I was wondering about that just today.

    -- Posted by senior lady on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 6:35 PM
  • I'm starting to realize that the people who post here are not willing to delve into the real reason we came to this point on a national level, they would just rather disregard critiquing my previous post.

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 6:58 PM
  • Wow! is all I can say. I just spent the last 45 minutes reading ALL of the comments on this issue. The name calling and accusations is just a really good example for "The children" that this levy is supporting. The fists raised to the sky of "We won" sicken me. What I should or shouldn't do with my money infuriates me and the ignorance of the voting process just flat p----- me off.

    Voting is a right afforded everyone the day they turn 18. Not a mystery there, folks. If this issue did nothing more than get a whole bunch of 18 year old adults out there to register to vote, than good for them. Even if they voted opposite of me, I don't give a crap. At least they voted. I wonder if our local government teacher that was paid 43,766.00 held an example election, complete with a set of election laws that each of the students were given to determine even if they could or should vote. Legally. I think there would have been some eyes opened to the unfairness. That our election laws are flawed is our own fault. Those laws were made based on opinions, facts, lawsuits, and lawmaking. Laws are not meant to be broken. They can, however, be amended and changed. It takes a really good strong voice, perseverance and backbone to see that happens.

    The issue of property owners having to pay the levy for the whole district, well, I think it is wrong. Not only wrong, but WRONG WRONG WRONG. If anyone has ever sat down and read through the election laws for general, county, district and special elections, well, it is this girl's opinion that the laws are illegal, undisputed and biased. And here is why. You are claiming to be a resident in Mountain Home School District 193, and you have no permanent address as you are here on a temporary basis. You actually have lived in Timbuktu for the last 20 years but got kicked out so you moved in with Uncle Ed and Aunt Myrtle. You have legally(?) or not lived there for 6 months (state requirement). You worked for a few months and hear about all of the excitement with the school levy election. What the hey! You have a pay stub showing Uncle Ed's address....why not register to vote. So's you get your bootay on down to register, show your pay stub and a picture ID that DOESN'T even have your current address and poof! You are now qualified to make a decision on how and where this levy will be administrated.

    Mr. and Mrs. U.S.A own property in say, Boise Idaho. They happen to have a homeowners exemption which CLEARLY disqualifies them from voting in the Mountain Home School District #193 levy election where they just happen to own 29 acres of bare ground and two duplexes where all four units are rented out to people with children that - you guessed it - have children attending Mountain Home Schools. There are 8 adult registered voters that of course, want their children to have the best education possible. But hey, rent is certainly cheaper in Elmore County than Ada so why the heck not. So, they have utility bills that PROVE they are gullible oops, I meant eligible to vote so's they get their bootays on down to the election, register and get the best bang for their dollar by voting yes, OF COURSE!!!!!

    Mr. and Mrs. USA, who have worked hard all of their lives, put THEIR children through school, invested their money wisely, invested in the future of Mountain Home, but lived in Boise until they retired and took their homeowners exemption on a home that now isn't worth the paper they signed their original note on, isn't worth squat. Not squat, but Jack squat. But hey, the upside is that they couldn't vote. They didn't get a say in where their money was spent, how it was spent, and why it was spent. Because they WEREN'T LEGAL TO VOTE.

    As long as we HAVE OUR FISTS RAISED AND ARE CELEBRATING AND GLOATING. If as many people that had a vested interest in property taxes and owned investment in Mountain Home #193 that were EXCLUDED from voting, there would have been a different outcome.

    If you are being taxed, then you SHOULD have a vote. If you live in the district and can prove legit residency, then you SHOULD have a vote.

    I voted no - simply because I think the whole voting process is illegal. And if anyone wants to challenge me on that issue, then bring it on. Bazookaman, will you second me on that?

    -- Posted by bearhunter on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 7:58 PM
  • The VOters of mt home have showed what they wanted so lets move on to something else.. All the complaining on here is not going to chance the results.. we are going to have to pay it so might as well move on.. When we voted tuesday I thought we were going to see about dissolving the WRECD.. What happen to all the signutes that were signed. Does their opion and signuture go no where. Why wasn't it on the ballot?

    -- Posted by lovemthome on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 9:57 PM
  • I have done a little research on how high teachers are paid here in Idaho...and only 9 other states pay LESS for the starting salary, and only 12 other states have a lower average salary! In other words, the teachers here are UNDERPAID!

    http://teacherportal.com/teacher-salaries-by-state is my source of information.

    -- Posted by MainerInExile on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 10:58 PM
  • cant justwatch maybe you don't have a job that pays into a 401k, but I do, and those thieves in the article stole more then half of it in the hedge fund scams that drove this nation into a financial free fall. First they stole our money, then the government gave them money, all the while they are still making more money by continuing to steal it. Sports people and movie stars are stealing it from us like wall street.

    If this is what you consider capitalism then you should just direct deposit your paychecks into their accounts.

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Sat, May 29, 2010, at 7:12 AM
  • Hogwash

    -- Posted by Freedom on Sat, May 29, 2010, at 7:19 AM
  • 12 Key Policy Decisions Led to Cataclysm

    Financial deregulation led directly to the current economic meltdown. For the last three decades, government regulators, Congress and the executive branch, on a bipartisan basis, steadily eroded the regulatory system that restrained the financial sector from acting on its own worst tendencies. "Sold Out" details a dozen key steps to financial meltdown, revealing how industry pressure led to these deregulatory moves and their consequences:

    1. In 1999, Congress repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, which had prohibited the merger of commercial banking and investment banking.

    2. Regulatory rules permitted off-balance sheet accounting -- tricks that enabled banks to hide their liabilities.

    3. The Clinton administration blocked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from regulating financial derivatives -- which became the basis for massive speculation.

    4. Congress in 2000 prohibited regulation of financial derivatives when it passed the Commodity Futures Modernization Act.

    5. The Securities and Exchange Commission in 2004 adopted a voluntary regulation scheme for investment banks that enabled them to incur much higher levels of debt.

    6. Rules adopted by global regulators at the behest of the financial industry would enable commercial banks to determine their own capital reserve requirements, based on their internal "risk-assessment models."

    7. Federal regulators refused to block widespread predatory lending practices earlier in this decade, failing to either issue appropriate regulations or even enforce existing ones.

    8. Federal bank regulators claimed the power to supersede state consumer protection laws that could have diminished predatory lending and other abusive practices.

    9. Federal rules prevent victims of abusive loans from suing firms that bought their loans from the banks that issued the original loan.

    10. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac expanded beyond their traditional scope of business and entered the subprime market, ultimately costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.

    11. The abandonment of antitrust and related regulatory principles enabled the creation of too-big-to-fail megabanks, which engaged in much riskier practices than smaller banks.

    12. Beset by conflicts of interest, private credit rating companies incorrectly assessed the quality of mortgage-backed securities; a 2006 law handcuffed the SEC from properly regulating the firms.

    -- Posted by idahogeek52 on Sat, May 29, 2010, at 8:13 AM
  • Key Policy Decisions Led to Cataclysm

    1. 1970 Richard Nixon "War on Drugs"

    2. Prohibition of Marijuana, which at the start in 1970 cost 200 million, 2010 its 15 billion for the DEA with a total of 168 billion a year Nation wide.

    3 Arresting 20 million people for Marijuana. one person is arrested for Marijuana every 37 seconds in the United States.

    4. Arresting Sick people for Medical Marijuana and Prohibiting Sick People from their chosen Medicine

    5. the continue growth of the Prison system and this Fraud of Treatment Programs and centers and its sudden growth should concern everyone.

    6. Judges and Mayors , Governors who Refuse, just Refuse too understand and act on this defected system of Prohibiton.

    7. Not controlling the Boarders and drug gangs created by our own Government refusal to have Laws Regulating Medical Marijuana,

    8. Government Refusal to Govern

    but if Our city wants to Fix the Problem heres an answer

    Open up a Medical Marijuana clinic,, Close the Smoke shop (duh)

    take the Money from the Medical Marijuana Clinic (sick people paying for public Education " and put it to Schools. the Medical Marijuana Clinic could gross 10 million a year or more.

    but I don't think Mountain Home citzens can handle that.

    so we're broke and will stay that way until we get a Government thats willing too Govern

    -- Posted by Freedom on Sat, May 29, 2010, at 9:27 AM
  • Dang

    It's going cost $240 more per year or something like that depending upon how my house is assessed.

    I don't think this will really be temporary. Once the schools get used to the revenue stream, it will be stay.

    I live away but rent my house out. I suspect that rents will eventually go up, because everyone homeowner and landlord is going to see the increase, and have the landlords, like me, will pass as much of it as they can, on to the tenant.

    I hope the base sees this and they get BAH rates raised. The sooner they start with thier higher headquarters, the sooner they might get the BAH increased. Maybe next year?

    Mountain Home and its schools are not competing with neighboring school districts; the nearest school disctict of any size is about 45 miles away, so I guess we could let the schools decline and not be too afraid of people moving away, to neighboring schools districts unless it got really, really bad. (Almost all the quality families here already probably wouldn't go through the cost and hassle of moving away, but substantial portions of wealthy families relocating (read Air Force) who care about their kids education would live in Boise instead. That would mean that they buy or rent thier houses and would spend all their money in Boise too, instead on any of it in Mountain Home).

    All that being said, the quality of the schools in Mountain Home and the money we could spend on them could both increase.

    For the overall good of the community it's good that the levy passed.

    Reminder to Base Command Structure. Please go to higher command at 12 AF or ACC. Let them know of the tax increase, and see if they can raise the BAH. Your troops housing costs have risen. Your Airmen who own houses in Mountain Home will be paying the increase as soon as it goes into effect. Your Airmen who rent will see it as soon as their leases renew.

    -- Posted by WasHere on Sun, May 30, 2010, at 8:51 AM
  • Wow, I am very astonished at how aggressive people are getting over the levy. Personal attacks are unnecessary. Anyway, I am currently a high school student in MH and am NOT a strong believer of the levy despite of being impacted by it if it had not passed. A majority of people who voted must not be homeowners if they don't realize how this is going to increase taxes. The levy may have passed, but you can't blame people for thinking of their money and wellbeing before a bunch of high school students. Alot of the people who voted aren't completely aware of how this levy works and probably don't care. They just think about their precious sports. Students will still have futures. Taking away sports is not the end of the world. There is a reason the term STUDENT ATHLETE is used. It shows that kids are students before they are athletes. In order to play on a sport team, you need to have a certain GPA and most colleges accept this GPA so it's not like a proper education is out of the question. One of the most academically successful countries in the world is Iceland. Know why? They don't offer sports. Students have only their education to focus on and they do it. I'm not saying getting rid of sports would have been a good thing. I don't play any, but I do enjoy a good football game and am very proud of our state softball champs, but people need to realize that alot of the people who benefit from the levy don't have to pay out of their pockets. My parents own a lot of properties that they rent out year round. I also have about 9 kids in my house. Both of my parents have jobs that are economically based which means that this recession has caused them to cut a few paychecks. Plus, taxes repeatedly increasing doesn't help. I'm not saying this should be everyone else's problem, but I am saying that alot of people can't afford this and do not benefit from it, so why should they have to? I know it has passed already, which personally sucks, but if I were 18, I would too have voted no.

    -- Posted by seri1155 on Tue, Jun 1, 2010, at 8:41 AM
  • That superintendent sure was wearing a nice suit on TV when he was endorsing the levy. I hear he and his wife make a pretty penny. If they were serious about funds maybe those two could take a page out of the GM book and take a paycut for the good of the school. If they truly cared about education maybe they would manage their school's funds a little better. Just sayin.

    -- Posted by jno12345 on Tue, Jun 1, 2010, at 9:58 AM
  • Well said seri1155. I also got to thinking once the levy kicks in and the homeowners start paying it wont be long and I imagine that stuff in the stores will go up to cover the cost of the levy to those property owners. So the people will not only be paying in a higher mortgage payment but in goods and services too, or is a business not included when it comes to paying for this levy? This levy was not a good idea. The focus needs to be on education not sports.

    -- Posted by transplanted on Tue, Jun 1, 2010, at 10:07 AM
  • *

    I don't think sports have a lot to do with it from the dollars and cents perspective. Yes they were going to be eliminated, but in the overall budget sports were not a huge ticket item. Not saying the sports program doesn't need to be adjusted. But there are other areas that need to have cut backs as well -- with or without the levy.

    -- Posted by VicVega on Tue, Jun 1, 2010, at 11:11 AM
  • *

    So now the levy has passed, the crime rate in MH should plummet, since all the teens now "have something to do". So, we can save money by cutting the law enforcement for the city right?? I mean, if theres no crimes from the teens, then we shouldnt need as many officers. Im just wondering what degree the SD Super needs to have, I believe its political, since he was a master mind at spinning the real reason for this levy. I look forward to seeing him leave and we get a "true" educator in there and not a politician who has a hard time doing simple math. Shame on you MH News for skewing the news, constantly reporting the levy was only 2.8 million, when in fact you knew it was 5.6 million. You want people to read your articles and buy your paper, you should concentrate on reporting the facts and not kowtowing to the SD and other agencies. I look to the news for the facts and sadly its becoming harder and harder to see them report it. What happened to the days of reporting for the truth and facts.

    -- Posted by scoutin on Tue, Jun 1, 2010, at 7:47 PM
  • WasHere essentially hit the nail on the head.

    SecDef/DFAS, who controls our pay and allowances does a survey on the RENTAL housing market each year. http://militarypay.defense.gov/pay/bah/index.html Base leadership has little say in it. Our BAH is based on the rental market, not mortgage cost. So landlords carry more weight in this case. Our BAH went down in nearly every enlisted rank last year. I hope that landlords increase their rent, passing the cost on to tenants (who will probably have children in the schools) and get more money in our military homeowners pockets, thus making the levy affordable.

    WasHere, "I live away but rent my house out. I suspect that rents will eventually go up, because everyone homeowner and landlord is going to see the increase, and have the landlords, like me, will pass as much of it as they can, on to the tenant.

    "I hope the base sees this and they get BAH rates raised. The sooner they start with thier higher headquarters, the sooner they might get the BAH increased. Maybe next year?

    "Reminder to Base Command Structure. Please go to higher command at 12 AF or ACC. Let them know of the tax increase, and see if they can raise the BAH. Your troops housing costs have risen. Your Airmen who own houses in Mountain Home will be paying the increase as soon as it goes into effect. Your Airmen who rent will see it as soon as their leases renew."

    -- Posted by Gunfighter CAA on Wed, Jun 2, 2010, at 8:39 AM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: