Look Out, Tightwads

The Idaho Legislature has only itself to blame for the Fourth District Court’s trial to decide if schools are adequately funded.

For two sessions, lawmakers have refused to address inequitable funding that forces some Idaho children to attend school in unsafe buildings. In the Panhandle, examples of unsafe or inadequate school buildings can be found in Bonner, Boundary and Shoshone counties - and in the Whitepine School District.

Worst of all, the Legislature wouldn’t even consider changing the tough formula for passing school bonds. Idaho remains the only state that requires a two-thirds supermajority vote to pass those bonds, yet provides no state money for school construction.

In a lawsuit filed by 15 school districts, including Post Falls, the court had held off, offering legislators one last chance to correct the situation. But, two bills passed by the House last week to loosen up loans for schools were too little, too late.

If the court now decides the state is responsible for providing safe schools, Idahoans may see their taxes go up. State Rep. Don Pischner, R-Coeur d’Alene, spoke of the danger a court ruling poses: “If this takes us down a road where districts that support paying for schools end up paying for districts that don’t, that paints a pretty cloudy picture.”

Shame on the Legislature for putting Idaho in this situation.