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Once again Harry Welty is a candidate for the Duluth School Board

             
 

  
 

  
 

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Succinct Explanation

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My Snow History

 

Facts you should know before voting on the excess levy referendums on Nov. 5

The school's existing excess levy of $365 per student will expire next year. On Nov. 5, voters will be asked to approve two referendums for a new excess levy. Voting "Yes" on the first question will make the excess levy $599 per student and voting "Yes" on the second will raise the excess levy an additional $200 per student.

Voting "Yes" on the first excess levy will increase the school's portion of local property taxes by 6% and voting "Yes" on both questions will result in a 12% school local property tax increase.

What you should consider before voting:

1.      The district told the citizens that there would be no tax increase this year.

When the school board approved sending this excess levy referendum to the voters on August 20, they were told that this would result in no increase in local property taxes (due to other matching funds from the State and a new way to count students). But at the next meeting, the board was told that the
administration had decided to raise other property taxes and that this will result in
a 6% local property tax increase if the first question is approved and a 12% increase if both questions pass. This was dishonest.

2.      Property tax has steadily increased since 2007. In 2007, the total local school property tax was $13.8 million. Last year it was $28.9 million. Voting "Yes" on the first referendum will further raise school property taxes to $30.6 million. Voting "Yes" twice will raise school property taxes to $32.5 million. This will result in a 122% (or 135%) school property tax increase since 2007.

3.      The school board is not giving the citizens a full vote. The board voted to accept the non-voter approved Location Equity levy of $212 per student. This will result in a $1.9 million levy-even if you vote NO and NO. Again, the school board is being dishonest-they are only giving you half a vote. This is dishonest.

4.      Local school property taxes in Duluth are among the highest in the state.

Dishonest district and advocacy group claims are contrary to the facts. Because
the district built the $314 million Red Plan without a voter referendum, most of
the school property tax is "non-voter" approved, which the district dishonestly
ignores. It's like they keep pretending the Red Plan tax increases doesn't exist.

o        Duluth now has the 5th highest non-voter approved property taxes in the
state (out of337 Districts). Duluth has the highest non-voter approved
property taxes of the all the 45 largest non-metro school districts.

o        The per student total local tax levy in Duluth is now about $3400 per
student. This puts Duluth at the 3rd highest property taxes per student of
the 45 largest non-metro schools. If both the referendums pass, Duluth
will likely be the highest taxed per student of these largest non-metro schools; and Duluth will be about the 24th highest taxed per student in the state (out of 337 districts), or in the highest 7%  

o        Yet, Duluth is among the poorest of the cities in the state. 25% of ourpopulation lives below the poverty level, versus only 12% as a state average. Duluth citizens and businesses cannot afford another tax increase.

5.      The district's building plan promised "in writing" that the Red Plan would be financed, "in both a budget and tax neutral manner". Both of these
clauses have been violated. But the district has refused to enforce this part of the contract, and instead, just wants to raise taxes. Why is the District protecting Johnson Controls? Why aren't we insisting on enforcing the contract that we
bargained for with Johnson Controls?

6.      Excess levies are a minor source of revenue supporting the district. Last year's total (non-debt service) budget was about $115 million. You can see that the current and proposed excess levy (less the board imposed Location Equity levy) of $2.5 million is only about 2% of the budget. The district and advocacy groups are making it sound that not having this 2% will be a calamity. More
dishonesty and scare tactics. Considering the increase in state revenue (see item #8), there will be an increase in revenues even if both referendums would fail.

7.      There is no certainty that revenue raised by the referendums will only go to the classrooms or even to increase the number of teachers. Such dishonest district and advocacy group claims are contrary to the facts and the history of the
district. The district has been transferring about $3 to 8 million a year out of the general funds (the classrooms) to pay for building debt for the last five years. It is obvious that this transfer of money out of the general fund dwarfs a $1.1 million increase in revenue if the first referendum would pass. It is dishonest that advocates want to increase the excess levy while ignoring this real, primary cause of the lack of money in the classrooms.

8.      Even if both referendums fail, there is other money coming from the state. That money will more than make up for a small loss of revenue if the referendums fail. First of all, the district will get the $1.9 million additional levy they passed without giving the people a vote. Secondly, this year [has] seen a[n] $800,000 increase in state aid, and finally, next year the expected state formula ncrease will result in $4.5 million revenue increase. These three revenue sources will result in an increase in next year's district revenues-even if both the referendums fail.

9.      Teacher salary increases will likely take up the entire levy. If the first referendum passes, this will result in a $1.1 million increase in district revenue (not taxes) over this year's levy (which is expiring). The teachers' contract has not yet been settled, and they are holding off until after the election to see if the excess levy referendums pass. If these referendums pass, it is expected that the teachers will get another 1.5% increase which will cost the district about $1 million in increased salaries. In other words, all the excess levy increase will likely go to increasing teacher salaries. Duluth teacher salaries and the superintendent's salary are already among the highest in the state.

 

 

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PO Box 3434
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.MAIN POINT 1

Everything that follows may be true. However, keeping the District in its current financial situation will not allow for any reduction in classroom size. I do not disagree that the cost of the Red Plan is unfair and excessive. It won't go away until the bonds are paid off 20 years from now. A voter has to ask if bringing the class sizes down to the point where teaching and learning can take place is worth paying more than is fair. Paying to make the schools effective simply requires more money than tax payers are currently paying even though it is already too much because of the Red Plan.

 

 

 


2. It is important to remember that about 2007 a number of old ISD 709 building bonds expired. Even our school board was aware that it would be a good time to authorize new building and bonding. Had a smaller plan been authorized the jump between 2007 there would have been a significant jump which could have been critisized however it wouldn't have felt as overwhelming b

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4. But remember. This is not for classroom expenses alone. This per pupil expense includes Red Plan spending which affects taxpayers the same but not students who have been robbed by the Red Plan of teachers.

5. this may be true but even if that promise has been violated it doesn't change the fact that there are too few teachers and too many students in their classes.

 

6. Saying that the decrease is only 2% to make it seem of little worry will still mean more cuts in teaching positions. How many? Divide $2.5 million by the average teacher salary of $61,000 and you lose 41 more teachers

7. It is true that there is no guarantee about how the new revenue would be spent. there is only the trust that School Board members can offer. Still, politically it would be dangerous for Board members to spend new money on anything other than new teachers.

Furthermore, transfers of money from operations to pay off bonds however wrong doesn't mean that the District can get out of paying the bonds. If the levies fail the bonds will still empty the general fund.

8.This may be the strongest argument against voting for the levies. Still, We have such crowded classes the district is in serious distress. I think it is most important to hire more teachers and hold their salaries level to get past the gangrene.
 

9. I don't think the teachers have any stomach to strike and are desperate for smaller classes. I can't guarantee how other Board members will vote but I think it would be a safe year to negotiate no increase in teacher compensation.

FINAL POINT
REREAD POINT 1