Posted on 01/30/2005 7:26:39 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
4 districts support millage
Countywide measure would shore up school operating budgets
Friday, January 28, 2005
BY LEANNE SMITH, STEPHENIE KOEHN AND LISA CAROLIN
News Staff Reporters
Four county school districts where officials have openly supported a countywide enhancement millage have given their blessing to placing the measure to a vote on May 3.
School boards in Pinckney, Howell, Brighton and Hartland voted Monday to support the measure, which would bring a three-year, 3-mill tax to all county districts to help shore up operating budgets in light of state budget cuts. Local school officials say the millage would be a temporary fix, giving the state time to make needed changes to school funding.
At least one group is forming in the county opposing the proposed millage.
Now that the districts representing a majority of students in the county have approved the measure, it will be put before voters by the Livingston Educational Service Agency, the county's intermediate school district. The LESA board is expected to take up the measure at a future meeting calling for the special election.
School officials, with the exception of one Brighton trustee, supported the measure during discussions Monday.
"We're bringing up a word our lawmakers are unwilling to say," said Pinckney school board Vice President Tasha Lebow as trustees unanimously agreed to support the millage. "We are asking to raise taxes - though moderately - but it's the best chance we have to preserve the good things we have going on."
"It would be just a short term delay while we wait for our lawmakers and powers that be to come up with a long-lasting way to effectively fund education," Lebow added. "Proposal A was supposed to create equal funding across the state among all school districts, but those at the bottom of the scale still are at the bottom of the scale."
That includes Pinckney, which still receives the state minimum of $6,700 per student in state funding, said President Marcia Jablonski. The district, she said, ranks 705 out of a total 735 districts when it comes to funds from the state.
The board's newest trustees, Carol Houston and Laura Heatwole, Jablonski and Secretary Anne Colone echoed disappointment over the cool attitude of local state legislators, including state Sen. Valde Garcia, R-Howell, toward the schools' plight at the Jan. 13 countywide educational summit. "I was terribly hurt by the cavalier attitude our legislators showed," Houston said. "I've wrestled with this personally and we've wrestled with it collectively. Raising taxes is not a fun idea. I hate to bring it up, but I feel we must."
Several board members also spoke of their initial reluctance to support the millage, saying they thought it would be perceived as "letting the state off the hook" when it comes to its legal responsibility to fund schools. In the end, the board agreed they didn't want to sacrifice programs and services without input from district residents.
"This is a big step we are taking along with our colleague school boards," Jablonski said. "But I believe it's time we give our community a voice in what it wants and values. I hope it values kids."
In Brighton the vote for the resolution was 6-1, with trustee Miles Vieau voting against it. "What are we doing if the state doesn't do anything in the next three years?" said Vieau. "I can't support it until we have a plan."
Brighton resident Patricia Cole told the board she has concerns about a new tax. "I have great concerns about increases in my tax base," she said. "I am retired and living on a limited income. While our school district is running behind on finances, it doesn't seem to stop increases in pay. I'm very much opposed to the millage. When you can pull in your belt, don't ask me to pull in mine."
Superintendent Dave Pruneau said the millage is needed. "We should at least let the taxpayers decide if they want to help us," he said. "We get $300 per student less than the state average, which is a $2 million swing that we are underfunded in one year. Out of 735 districts, we rank 690. There has to be an urgency to state legislators to decide what is adequate funding for all schools."
Board Treasurer William E. Anderson said the district faces a crisis. "We can probably muddle through the coming year, but the year after there will be no money left in the bank," he said.
In Howell, the school board voted unanimously to approve the measure. "Given the rather dire circumstances of our state's economy and the lag in funding through Proposal A, local districts are being painted into a corner and having to fix things at the local level," Superintendent Chuck Breiner told board members.
The district faces the consequences of the mounting crisis in school finance, and without the estimated $5.7 million that the millage would bring into district coffers, will be in debt beginning next year. The district has already cut its budget to the bone, Breiner said. "We've reduced bus routing, instituted pay-to-play, made reductions in counseling and library staff, increased lunch prices and made staff reductions through attrition," he said. "There is nowhere to go; we are really at our wit's end."
Answering suggestions that the district ask its personnel to pay for their health insurance, he said the measure would do little to help the situation. "We could not ever save this budget through savings in health insurance premiums," he said.
"This is a survival millage," Breiner added. "How do we make ends meet while the legislature figures out what's wrong in school funding? This puts (the answer) directly into the hands of voters. What kind of schools do they want and what do they want to save their children from?"
Even with the millage, the district will be more than $5 million in the red by the third year of 2007-2008, he said. But without it, the deficits to the tune of $2.6 million will begin with the 2005-2006 budget.
In Hartland, the school board passed the resolution unanimously 7-0. They had been the first in the county to show their support for the millage last fall.
"Our board has supported the resolution all along because we are in a funding crisis," said Hartland Superintendent Janet Sifferman. "Livingston County does not receive equitable funding, and the state legislature and governor need to take a leadership role and do something about it."
The Fowlerville school board did not vote on the measure, but voters there would still cast ballots for it and the district would benefit if it is approved.
Members of a group called Concerned Taxpayers have spoken out against what they call "unnecessary taxation and government growth," according to organizer Bill Johnston of Cohoctah Township.
The problem is the increased costs in administrator and teachers salaries (mostly due to health benefits) when funding has been stagnant thanks to the economy. The districts spent themselves into this mess, some more than others.
This millage lasts for three years - and then the schools will be in WORSE financial shape when it is open, due to increased costs - unless there's a renewal.
Of course the union thugs and collective dems go for the pocketbook. You will pay more for less. If more libs continue to move and swamp Livingston, they'll out-vote you.
That's what they all say.
We just had an presidential election with a record number of people voting.
So what does the school board do? They schedule a vote on May 3rd. Sounds like they don't want a big turn out.
The district, she said, ranks 705 out of a total 735 districts when it comes to funds from the state.
This kind of stat causes me to see red. Some district has to be #1 and some district has to be # 735. All those below 368 can claim that they are below the average. So who is supposed to give a rip? I guess they expect crocodile tears to make people reach deeper into their pockets.
Are you sure it is low turnout or do you think voters often take a pass on local issues because they 'trust' the locals to make the right decisions? I think this often the case. Problem is, it's the left side of things that punch those particular school board and millage chads.
Unfortunatly, both. 3% turnout is normal.
That's spooky.
I'll be voting no.
Hi Dan.
I am in Tyrone Twp., in Fenton school district. Am I ineligible to vote regarding this?
I don't know. I think it only applies to Brighton, Howell, Pinckney, Fowlerville, and Hartland school districts, but I'm not sure voting time.
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