A student's thoughts on the levy

Letter to the Editor,

As a senior of Libby High School, I walk through the halls and see the crumbling ceilings; I feel as my feet trip on the cracked floors, I suffer the OCD of the many tiles with completely different patterns.

I’ve been in this school system at least nine years, going through the shut down of Asa Wood, the movement of our grade to the high school, seeing all the schools shutting down around us and wondering if ours was next.

Our school may not have pretty ceilings, nor embellished wood outside the school or even smoothly paved concrete, but it isn’t our burden. It’s wear and tear. In that sense, it shouldn’t be our town’s burden.

Many people in Libby are unable to afford the property tax they have now, let alone the additional amount they are about to get because of the levy. In truth, there are a few things that absolutely need fixed at the school – I can vouch that – but, with this levy, the burden shouldn’t last so long. An increase of taxes on property could lead to even more people vacating Libby.

I hear about the taxes being generally raised to 30 cents a month for four years, wasn’t there a past levy? Many, in fact? Did the taxes from those ever get lowered after so many years? Also, why was this levy so quiet? Many members of the community had absolutely no idea about this levy, let alone the date and time.

I’m not saying I am for this levy, but I’m not against this either. I may just be a kid like everyone would say, this is all adult business and shouldn’t even affect me, especially since I won’t see the supposed projected building fixes.

But, before I give my opinion, I asked for multiple opinions to get the underlining arguable issue. I heard both sides; the people who could afford the tax were for the levy, the people who couldn’t were against it.

The teachers were very apt for this levy; initiating their upbeat attitudes in their of-age voting students. A lot of these students shouldn’t have even voted; all of them, in fact. I have not met one student who owns property and voted – so do they really know what they voted for? Most are leaving for college; most are going to rent a place. Renters do not pay property tax.

In my opinion, I believe this should have been fairer in the sense that only property owners were able to vote for the levy since it affects them the most. I admit in the beginning upon hearing of the levy, I was strongly supportive. Now after hearing different opinions and learning the facts, who are the real winners here?

Allasandra Buckner,

Libby