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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 10-22 East metro districts ask for more operating and infrastructure revenue PIONEER PRESS East metro districts ask for more operating and infrastructure revenue Updated'�OR22015 05'S8'49 PM CDT TwinCities.com School leaders in two Twin Cities east metro districts will ask voters Nov.3 to increase taxes to avoid further budget cuts and ensure students have proper learning spaces and supplies. The North St.Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale and South Washington County school districts have a total of fve levies on their ballots.Both are asking for additional operating revenue,with South Washington also seeking money for new classrooms and North St.Paul hoping to fund improvements of existing infrastructure and technology. In their most recent operating budgets,the districts cut millions of dollars in planned spending:North St.Paul cut$8 million and,with it,100 jobs;South Washington County closed a similar budget shortfall with a combination of spending cuts and savings. South Washington County voters last approved an operating levy increase in 2013,but they rejected a capital levy to buy land for future schools.In North St.Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale,voters OK'd a levy renewal in 2011,but they haven't approved an increase in operating funding in 13 years. SOUTH WASHINGTON COUNTY After approving a long-range facilities plan in late 2014,the South Washington County school board turned its attention to finding ways to shore up the districPs fnances. The$6.9 million operating increase approved by voters in 2013 and increases in state aid were not enough to allow the district to keep up with growing costs.Wth new homes planned for Woodbury and Cottage Grove and enrollment expected to climb,school leaders realized they also needed more classrooms to handle the additional students. In late August,after months of debate,school board members voted to put three tax requests on the ballot,asking voters for another$10 million for operations and$142.5 million to build and renovate schools: —The frst question is an operating increase. --The second question is a capital levy contingent on the passage of the operating increase. --The third question is also a capital levy contingent on voters approving the frst two measures. Approval of question one would raise an additional$10 million a year to maintain existing programs.It would cost lhe owner of a$250,000 home--the district average--$266 annually. The second ballot question would raise$96 million for a new middle school and improvements at existing middle schools.It would cost the average homeowner$104 per year. The third question would raise$46.5 million for renovations and expansions at district elementary and high schools,and would cost the average property owner$48 annually. Approval of three requests would cost the typical homeowner$418 a year. Michelle Wtte,a school board member and leader of the Vote Yes 833 committee,said district leaders have trimmed expenses wherever they can and are asking only for the additional money needed to maintain existing programs. "We are asking the exact moment we need it,"Witte said."ISn't that the best value?" She said the district developed the capital levies after months of input from the community,and she said it was important for voters to decide.Without new space,the district will have to change school boundaries and fnd other creative solutions. "If we don't move forward,I want to know it is because the community doesn't want it;'said Wtte,who also is seeking re- election to the board seat she has held since her appointment in 2014. Andrea Mayer-Bruestle,a school board candidate and leader of the levy opposition group South Washington Citizens for Progress,said the district is asking for too much too fast. Mayer-Bruestle said she thinks school leaders could fnd ways to more effciently spend the money the district has already, and she questioned the need for$142.5 million for new construction and renovations. ast metro districts ask for more operating and infrastructure revenue-TwinCities.com Page 2 c "We just passed an increase in 2013 that was supposed to keep us solvent and a year later we are cutting the budget" Mayer-Bruestle said."Our message has become:Vote no,demand a new plan." NORTH ST.PAUL-MAPLEWOOD-OAKDALE After cutting spending plans by$35 million since 2005,North St.Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale school leaders are hopeful distrid voters will support an operating increase that would nearly double its existing per-pupil revenue. If approved by voters,the measure would raise another$10 million annually,or$900 per student,for the next 10 years. The levy would cost the owner of a$190,000 home—the district average--$280 a year. Voters also will be asked to approve a second ballot question that would raise$3 million annually for capilal expenses, including improvements to classroom technology and building security.If approved,the levy would cost the average homeowner$69 a year. If both requests are approved,the district would receive$13 million in new revenue per year,and the average homeowner would see taxes rise$349 annually. Superintendent Christine Osorio,a former St.Paul Public Schools administrator who joined the district in July,said the operating increase would allow the district to reinstate some programs and avoid cutting teachers'jobs. "I think there is a general understanding that we haven't had an(operating)increase since 2002.Thirteen years is quite a long time to go without an increase,"said Osorio. She said she thought community members were supportive of the two levies,but added:"Ifs always hard to tell because tax increases are always a tough sell to families." School offcials noted there is a pro-levy group,Citizens for 622,but they were not aware of any organized opposition groups. Christopher Magan can be reached at 651-228-5557.Follow him at twitter.com/chris_magan. SCHOOL TAXES AT A GLANCE The Minnesota Department of Education tells school districts each fall the amount of property tax dollars they can collect without voter approval;everything above that goes before voters as levy requests.In general,there are two types of levies: --Operating levies,which pay for school operations and fund things such as staff salaries and learning materials. --Capital levies,which are typically used for infrastructure.Bond levies allow districts to borrow money to build or maintain facilities that is repaid over time.Other capital levies raise a set amount each year for specific things such as technology.