Richert: We’re Williing To Pay For Ed

The argument has been made so often in this year’s public education debate that it has graduated, unchallenged, into conventional wisdom. Idahoans won’t pay new taxes, even if the money goes to schools. This is state superintendent Tom Luna’s premise behind overhauling public education using existing — and limited — state resources. The voters spoke in November, Luna likes to say, and they said no to new taxes. The voters spoke again Tuesday, in communities across the state. Here’s a cross-section of what they had to say:

• In Idaho Falls, voters said yes to a $13.6 million in school levies over two years.
• In Pocatello, voters said yes to $15 million over two years.
• In Twin Falls, they said yes to $7.5 million over two years.
• Coeur d’Alene voters approved a pair of levies, totaling $25.8 million over two years.

Question: Is Tom Luna’s correct with his basic premise that Idahoans don’t want a tax increase to pay for public education?