N.Branch schools to seek levy

By Barbara Brown
The North Branch School Board last week talked about whether to ask voters to approve a referendum question this fall that would tax property owners to pay for school district operational costs.
While the board has not solidified the amount it will ask for, discussion at the July 10 meeting led to the board members agreeing that they would ask for enough taxes to add $2.59 million to the budget for the 2004-2005 school year.
That amount would be equal to about $189 in taxes from an owner of a home or commercial building valued at $150,000 and $220 for the owner of a building valued at $175,000.
In the second year of the levy, payable in 2005, the cost would drop to $168 on a $150,000 building and $196 on a $175,000 building.
Should the referendum pass this coming fall, board members said, the board would be able to save most of the cuts they would have had to make for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years.
Finance director Randi Johnson said the state will not allocate any new money for schools that do not pass operating levies this year.
She said the legislature last session increased the state share of a levy, meaning that less of the burden would fall to taxpayers.
If the levy had passed last November, the owner of a building valued at $150,000 would have paid $227 the first year and the owner of a $175,000 building would have paid $264.
School board chairman Mary Jo Ahlgren said the board was asking for too small an amount and that it should consider asking for more.
ìIf we are looking long-term, I truly think we should ask for more,î she said. ìBut, there is so much uncertainty in the future.î
Ahlgren said she is concerned that the board may have to ask voters again for a levy a few years down the road if they do not ask for enough now.
ìWe need to ask for what we are reasonably sure will cover us for potential cuts.î
While passing the levy will not guarantee that any cuts that have already been made would be reinstated, passing the measure would prevent cuts to important areas like textbooks, which was scheduled for a potential $200,000 cut in the 2004-2005 school year.
ìIn order to have enough money to make an impact, that amount would be ludicrous to ask for,î said board member Donna Setter.
ìWe have to ask for what is reasonable that would help prevent other cuts.î
The board is making its final decision at a short, special meeting scheduled for July 22 before the boardís work session.

Also at the meeting, the board:
ï Voted to encourage all students in the district to say the Pledge of Allegiance at least at least once per week. Students will learn proper flag etiquette and correct display of the flag. Students and staff may decline to participate.
ï Approved several contracts with teachers and substitute teachers for the coming school year;
ï Awarded the districtís garbage hauling contract to Terryís Disposal for $2,531.88 and awarded the fuel contract to Kath Fuel Oil Co. for .014 cents over the base price of .9545 per gallon of gasoline and .8365 per gallon of diesel;
ï Renewed the districtís membership in the Minnesota School Boardís Association for $5,065 and renewed membership in Schools for Equity in Education for $3,507;
ï Voted to begin a $20 charge to former staff members who are still on the districtís health plan if they pay their premium late.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com