Reject the West Ada Tax Hike

It's never enough, is it?

Next Tuesday, voters will decide whether or not to approve a half-billion-dollar levy for the West Ada School District over the next decade. If passed, this levy would result in significant property tax increases for most homeowners, amounting to hundreds of dollars per year.

You might not know that if you only listen to corporate media or listen to the public school boosters. You see, they are selling this to the public as a tax cut.

If they can’t even be honest with their voters, then do they really deserve more of our money?

Earlier this week, the Idaho Statesman published what can only be described as a press release on behalf of the West Ada School District. The only person interviewed was Superintendent Derek Bub, and the only perspective they present is the need for more of our money. They uncritically present West Ada’s own graph, which Superintendent Bub claims reflects a "fiscally conservative" tax hike.

Graphic provided to the Statesman by West Ada School District

A newly formed political action committee (PAC) recently sent out some text messages that were misleading at best:

Hey Neighbor,

As we’ve been out sharing our “Yes For West Ada” levy message, there seems to be some confusion about the levy’s impact on taxes.

Let us be clear:

If this levy passes, taxes are projected to go down steadily over the next 10 years. We’re so happy with the conservative approach West Ada has taken.

That really is some audacious spin, isn’t it? It’s akin to a car dealer suggesting that your monthly payments will decrease if you finance a new Honda immediately after paying off a BMW. You know what would save even more money? Continuing to drive the car you've already paid off.

Technically, the PAC is correct in stating that taxes will decrease if the levy passes. However, they conveniently omit the obvious truth that taxes will decrease even further if we reject the levy. Similar to a used car salesman, they hope their wordplay distracts you from the money you're about to lose.

In case you’re wondering, this new PAC, "Yes For West Ada," was established in March by Megan Saboori, with Ashley Aven serving as the treasurer. Aven previously worked on the campaign of State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield. The PAC has received significant funding from construction firms and developers.

These donors stand to benefit doubly, as the levy aims to fund extensive construction projects and also perpetuates further reliance on property taxes instead of the developer impact fees that many consider a better alternative. When you receive a message from "Yes For West Ada," it is crucial to consider the source.

There are numerous issues with the public school system. Test scores continue to decline, and pouring more public funds into the system has not improved the situation. Administrative bureaucracy seems to be growing endlessly, often at the expense of classroom teachers. Moreover, education has been replaced by indoctrination. Simply increasing funding will not address these fundamental problems. Public education remains rooted in a 19th-century system designed to produce model citizens for an industrial economy. It is time for innovative solutions instead of perpetuating the status quo.

Given these reasons, I already lean towards voting against levies. When they threaten to raise taxes by hundreds of dollars per year, I suggest exercising even more skepticism. When supporters twist the truth or outright lie to convince voters to support the levy, that solidifies my decision. Vote against the dishonest tax hike on Tuesday.