Posted: 8/15/03

School will seek new operating levy, technology dollars

By Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Property owners in the Forest Lake school district will be asked to support two tax levies in November raising more operating dollars and money to support technology.

The school board at a special meeting Thursday night voted unanimously to adopt two special levies officials say are needed to avoid staggering budget cuts in 2004 and to beef up the districtís seven-year-old technology system.

The district will seek a five-year excess operating levy that will generate $2,044,565 million each year. The levy would generate an additional $223.36 per pupil to support the general fund.

For technology, the board is preparing to ask the public to back another five year levy that will raise $2 million each year. A capital projects levy that requires state education department plan approval will be used for the technology upgrades.

Without the new excess operating levy, district officials say budget cuts of $2.25 million will be necessary for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The shortfall is a result of no new state funding to cover inflationary costs, escalating utility costs, flat enrollment and the possible loss of 50 students to a Spanish Immersion charter school in 2004.

The board agreed the technology levy warranted public consideration. It would shore up the districtís technology for students and provide ongoing funds over five years to provide additional upgrades and staff training.

A $6 million technology bond was approved by voters in 1996.

Approval of the $2.044 million operating levy would mean an annual cost of $46.16 or $3.84 a month for a district resident owning a home with market value of $200,000. Through its equalization aid, the state will share in the cost of this levy.

The technology levy of $2 million would result in an annual tax increase of $122.14 or $10.17 a month for a home with market value of $200,000.

Combined, the operating and technology levies would mean a tax increase of $14.01 a month for the $200,000 home.

The board agreed Thursday to let both levies stand on their own, meaning voters can approve, both, one or none of the ballot questions on Nov. 4.

The board also elected to not move forward at this time with an administrative proposal to raise new funds via a capital projects levy to support gifted education programs. Those programs have been hit hard by budget cuts in recent years and the district is seeking ways to restore the programs and staff.

The $2 million, five-year levy would be in addition to a $6 million five-year levy approved by voters in 2001. The district is now in the second year of utilizing those funds. The levy generates some $650 of per pupil aid.

Because of this springís legislative action to increase the stateís share of equalization aid, district officials say the cost impact to local taxpayers will take a major downturn next year.

For example, for the same home with $200,000 market value, the tax on the $650 per pupil unit special levy now in place required an annual tax of $346.37 in payable 2003. Because of the increased state equalization, if nothing changes this year, the owner of the $200,000 home will see an annual tax bill of $260.75 for payable 2004, or a reduction of $85.62.

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