By Tom Murphy
Caledonia Argus

Readers of The Argus regularly see stories about the finances of Independent School District #299.  Recently, Superintendent Michael Moriarty released a series of graphs outlining the changes in funding over the years from the state of Minnesota.

When the state of Minnesota under Governor Jesse Ventura pledged to increase its share of funding of schools, it was billed as relief of local property tax payers.  Others expressed regret because it meant the state would have greater control of the school’s operations and a fear that schools would be too reliant on state funding.  Others knew the state’s commitment to education funding changes with administrations.

Since 2003, statewide general education revenue excluding referendums, adjusted for inflation, has decreased by $229 to $6,900 per Average Daily Membership (ADM).  When you add in school referendums to the general education revenue, the statewide average increased over the same period $221 to $7,750, adjusted for inflation (See graph A).

All funds for all school expenses, including building referendums, increased on a real basis by less than one percent.

Another angle shows that the state share of state-local tax revenue for K-12 increased from 77 percent to 93 percent in 2003.  By the end of this year, the state share will have declined to 85 percent.  Half of the gain has been returned to the local districts’ responsibility (See graph B).

Bearing out the fear of greater state control is the example of the state share of operating capital revenue.  The state tells school districts how much they should spend but the state share has declined by 64 percent since 2003 (See graph C).

Adding to the argument, the state share of state-local tax revenues for referendums, debt service, and health and safety levies has declined dramatically, if not totally  (See graph D).

 Graph A

Graph B

Graph C

Graph D

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