Breaking News - Posted: 8/5/04

FL Schools will wait until 2005 for tax levy vote

There will be no request to Forest Lake Area Schools voters this November for a $2 million levy to support the general fund and head off more budget cuts. The school board Thursday night voted 5-2 to delay a levy vote until the fall of 2005. In the 2005 election, the school board will likely ask voters to renew the existing $6 million operating levy and authorize an additional $2 million in general fund support.

Board members Joe Grafft and Rob Rapheal opposed the decision. Board President Bill Bresin was joined by members Dean Barr, Karen Morehead, Jody Krebs and Keith Dunham in approving the delay. The delay, members said, would give the district time to evaluate its needs and communicate the facts to the public.

Grafft, in opposing the move, said a negative message was being sent to the district's staff that another $2 million and 30 staff positions would have to be cut this winter. Rapheal called the state funding system "flawed" in that the legislature has not truly fully funded public schools that must rely on excess tax levies to meet their growing expenses while state aid is frozen.

Bresin said he didn't relish the idea of cutting another $2 million but said he has heard nothing from the public to support a levy. "Where is our base of support?" he asked. "I just don't see the support out there."

Barr, who made the motion to delay the levy vote until 2005, said the time was needed to convince the public the funding is needed. "We need to get out and get that support," he said. "We need time to do that."

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