Taxpayers should ask questions

I attended the school board meeting on Feb. 25 and got to listen to the staff of the school district belittle those who dared question the bond issue for nearly two hours. Various teachers and students demanded and insisted they “deserve” or “have a right” to my tax dollars in various ways. Not a single one said, “please” or “thank you” for the tens of millions of dollars we already give them.

My tax dollars are not a “right” and as a voter I am entitled to know they are being spent carefully and all due diligence is being done to ensure I get the most for each dollar. Taxpayers have a right to question a building that is nearly 300 percent more expensive than commercial construction. Will this result in higher test scores? An improved attendance rate? Less vandalism and congestion around the high school?

The flyer I read said it would improve education by creating classrooms from an instructional perspective. Does anyone know what that actually means? Why is routing a potential attacker into the office to harm the secretary an improvement in security? The new school and all of the new schools built in the last couple of years do absolutely nothing to ensure the safety and well being of the office employees. Their lives matter, especially to me.

Two hundred more people voted on the bond than voted on the levy. Why? Because they feel they are being ignored and they pay taxes. This should tell you, people have questions and they do not like the smug, glib or condescending answers they are getting. Your access to my paycheck is not a “right” and if you are not willing to guarantee taxpayer money is spent wisely, you should not get anymore until you do.

Eric Schaffer

Spokane