Couple urges support of school levy

We are writing in support of the school building reserve levy coming up May 3.

Tax dollars are needed to update buildings and grounds, which are an average of 58 years old. As buildings and/or property age, certain maintenance and upkeep are required to prevent substantial deterioration. Because of budget constraints, many repairs to school buildings and properties have been patched together. At some point though, the Band-Aid approach is not enough. As the current ballot states, this levy is not a permanent tax and will go away after five short years. None of this money will be used to fund salaries or benefit school employees. Only hired contractors will be paid.

How many years has it been since a building levy of this kind has been presented to the community? I don’t have that answer, but know that this levy is long past due. A tax can be a burden for many Libby residents. If a property is valued at $100,000, the taxpayer would pay $97.20 per year, or $8.10 per month, or 27 cents per day. I went to the grocery store and tried to find an item worth 27 cents. I was hard pressed to find such an item. No one likes to see communities suffer financially, but somehow we’ve got to pull together and find a way to support this temporary levy.

The condition of our schools is a reflection of our community. Over the years, our children have received top notch education in a healthy school environment. We believe that future generations deserve the same.

The Sterns are residents of Libby.