Commentary; Posted: 11/19/03

Give school boards authority to construct buildings

By Don Heinzman

For years the Minnesota Legislature has insisted that voters have to approve bond issues to build and repair public school buildings. At the same time, cities and counties can sell bonds to build some facilities without having voter approval.

Two weeks ago voters turned down a number of bond elections even when the need for new space was demonstrated. As a result, there will be a delay in building schools, meaning students will have to learn in cramped quarters and in larger class sizes.

Overcrowded classrooms harm the education of students and add more stress to their lives.

A strong case can be made to have elected school boards decide when schools need to be built and sell the bonds to build them without voter approval. Deciding new facilities are needed to teach students when building space has run out is a no-brainer. The voter does not have to rubber stamp this kind of a cut-and-dried decision.

The Association of Metropolitan School Districts has as one of its legislative initiatives to rid the voter approval of bond issues to build and repair school buildings. So far, itís had little success. Legislators in effect say voters should have their say.

They say that historically itís always been done this way ó a weak argument during these changing times. To its credit, the Legislature allows school districts to spend $500,000 in deferred maintenance without a popular vote, and there is a provision to allow some facilities to be built through a lease-purchase arrangement, but not for school buildings.

If voter approval on bond issues for buildings is such a hot idea, why not make the cities and counties follow the same procedure? (Last session legislators gave cities the right to build public safety, public works and city halls without voter approval.)

Another response to the keep-the-vote is that having the vote gives the property taxpayer a chance to say no and keep some control on their tax bill.

The problem with this procedure is voters sometimes vote against a school bond referendum for the wrong reasons Some admittedly vote no, because they are on fixed incomes and cannot afford it. That is a valid reason.

Others vote no because they have a grudge against the school system, the school board, the school superintendent, or they donít like the way the school boundaries are drawn.

Some vote no because they want to send a message to the school board on how it is spending the money.

In Elk River School District 728, voters rejected a $60 million bond issue to build two new elementary schools and additions to existing buildings. It was the least costly and answered the severest need.

The voters okayed two increases in the property tax levy, one for operating expenses and one for technology and curriculum materials. Ironically, in the first levy, there was money earmarked to open the two new elementary buildings the voters rejected.

Meanwhile, in Elk River, the city council built a new police and fire station and remodeled the city hall without any voter OK through a lease-purchase deal with the Elk River Economic Development Authority.

The playing field for building schools and city halls is not level. It is time for the Legislature to be consistent and pass a bill allowing school district boards of education to decide what buildings should be built and to authorize them to sell bonds to build those buildings without a referendum.

If the public doesnít like that action, they can vote the school board members out of office at the next election.

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