Posted: 10/30/07
Continuation of current school levy to be decided November 6
By Charlie Warner
Argus Editor
Voters in District #299 will be asked on Nov. 6 to either approve or deny a five year operating levy. In 2002 district voters approved a levy that helped supplement basic state per-pupil funding. That levy, which expires after this year, generates $725.96 per pupil, or $715,166 in this school year.
If the operating levy is approved, there would be little or no impact to property owners, because the school district is not asking for additional funding, but to extend the current levy for five more years.
On residential homesteads, apartments, and commercial industrial property valued at $100,000 the increase would be $2 per year. On a piece of property valued at $200,000 the increase would still be $2 per year.
If voters do not approve the operating levy, taxes on property valued at $100,000 would decrease by $143 per year and on a $200,000 piece of property the decrease would be $287.
Since 2001, a farmerís share of a school district operating levy is based only on the value of the house, garage and one acre of land. All farmland beyond the one acre, whether homesteaded or non-homesteaded, is exempt from being taxed for operating levies.
90% of school districts have levies
According to Superintendent Michael Moriarty, 309 out of the 341 public school districts in Minnesota have operating levies in place. Of the 32 that donít, 15 are planning to place a referendum question before their voters this fall.
School districts that do not have operating levies in place actually lose out on a large pool of money the state divvies up between participating districts. In Caledoniaís case, the state share for the 2008-09 school year would be $266,060. If local voters decide not to support the continuation of the current levy, other school districts in the area will be receiving a bigger portion of the pie, since Caledoniaís share ($266,060) would be put back into the pot.
All of the school districts in whole or part in Houston County currently have operating levies. Those levies are:
ï Caledonia - $725
ï Spring Grove- $1,388
ï Mabel-Canton - $1,207
ï Rushford-Peterson- $840
ï La Crescent- $575
ï Houston- $839
Why operating levies?
Operating budgets have been impacted by significant increases in the cost of fuel, utilities, textbooks, equipment, school supplies, employee health insurance, transportation, and facility maintenance and repair, according to Moriarty.
Declining enrollments also impact the amount of money a school district has, since all districts are funded on a per-pupil basis. As enrollments decline, state and local funding decreases.
Mandated programs that the state and federal governments create must somehow be funded. Many of these new programs, services, and assessments are imposed on the school districts without providing adequate funds to support them.
Declining enrollment
Like most rural school districts, District #299 is experiencing declining enrollment, which has a major impact on the amount of money the school district takes in each year. In 2002 when the current operating levy was approved, the district had 933 students. This year the district is serving 803 students. Since the enrollment declined by about 130 students, the district will receive about $900,000 less in local and state per-pupil aid this year.
Moriarty reported enrollment projections indicate the enrollment decline will level off in about four years at 750 students.
"The pre-school and kindergarten classes have pretty much leveled off in the 40 to 45 student per year range. Elementary classes should level off at around 40 students per grade, middle school- 45 to 50 students per grade and 75 to 80 kids per grade in the high school," Moriarty said. It should be noted with two parochial schools in Caledonia, and a third located in Hokah, K-8 numbers run about 30 students per grade lower than those at the high school.
If the levy is passed
Moriarty listed a number of programs and services the school district would be able to continue providing to area students if the levy is passed. They include:
ï the continuation of all-day every kindergarten;
ï maintaining the current curriculum offerings in the middle school and high school;
ï maintain the current music programs at all levels;
ï maintain the current textbook rotation cycle, which is seven years (before the 2002 operating levy was approved, the cycle was 10 to 15 years);
ï maintain technology infrastructure and equipment replacements (the district currently spends about $80,000 updating this technology);
ï maintain current class size;
ï continue to invest in buildings and grounds maintenance and improvements;
ï maintain a positive general fund balance.
If the levy is not passed
Without the operating levy, the loss of local and state matches, combined with continued declining enrollment will force the school district to cut student programs, services, reduce staff, increase the student to teacher ratio, cut extra curricular offerings, charge more for extra curricular offerings still in place, and lose an estimated $266,000 per year from the state in matching funds.
"The purpose of the proposed operating levy is to maintain the current level of funding in order to continue offering the high quality educational programs and opportunities now available to district students," Moriarty noted. "While staffing reductions will still be necessary as student numbers decline, district residents and students can expect consistent programs and learning opportunities with the renewal of the expiring operating levy.
Polling sites
Voting will take place Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 1:30 to 8 p.m. at four polling sites within the school district. They include:
ïBrownsville Community Center- for residents of the city of Brownsville and the townships of Brownsville and Hokah.
ïCaledonia Area Elementary School cafeteria- residents of the city of Caledonia and the townships of Black Hammer, Caledonia, Mayville, Mound Prairie, Sheldon, and Union.
ïCrooked Creek Community Center- residents of Crooked Creek and Jefferson townships.
ïEitzen Community Center- residents of the city of Eitzen and the townships of Wilmington and Winnebago.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com