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State must find a better way to fund schools |
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Wednesday, 12 December 2007 |
Rick Olseen
Guest Columnist
This November, 100 Minnesota school districts — one-third of the state’s total number — asked voters to provide more money for basic education programs through local levies. About 67 percent of all ballot questions passed.
The Senate’s E-12 Education Finance Division recently met and heard from superintendents, volunteers and parents about their experiences, both successful and unsuccessful, in passing levies.
The underlying message from these parties was clear — continued reliance on operating levies to fund school basics will not provide a quality education for all Minnesota students.
The groups discussed how school levy campaigns created divisiveness in communities long after the initiative passed or failed and sometimes created animosity towards the schools.
Many testifiers felt it was inappropriate for school districts to be using their energies running campaigns and raising money instead of focusing on educating our children.
The committee also heard how in many areas, especially Greater Minnesota, changing demographics have hurt passage of ballot questions. The aging population, who are already financially stressed with skyrocketing property taxes due to Gov. Pawlenty’s cuts in local government aid, often don’t have the capacity to support additional taxes on their fixed incomes.
Superintendents from school districts where levies failed told the committee how they would be forced to increase class sizes, cut teachers, and slash programs to meet their budget targets.
As a legislator, I’m concerned that in districts that cannot pass an operating levy, whether it is due to a low tax base or the unwillingness of the community to support it, that those children are not receiving the same level of education as those in other parts of the state.
I agree with the sentiments of these groups that we must move away from our reliance on operating levies to fund education in Minnesota. As a 10-year member of the North Branch School Board, I saw Gov. Ventura make a move toward more education funding from the state.
Unfortunately, state support for education under the Pawlenty administration has gone backwards, not even keeping pace with inflation. As a result, we have seen districts go back to the operating levy as a primary funding source, stressing the local taxpayer.
Recent legislative attempts have begun to restore the Pawlenty education cuts, but more needs to be done.
A School Finance Reform Task Force has been meeting this fall to discuss ways to design a better education funding system.
The task force plans to present its findings to the Legislature in January, and I look forward to hearing their suggestions.
Minnesota is constitutionally mandated to provide a uniform system of education, so we must do all we can at the state level to ensure that all kids receive a quality education. Providing adequate state funding is necessary in achieving this goal.
As always, feel free to contact me with your questions or comments on any issue. You may call me at 651-296-5419, send an e-mail to
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, or write to G-24 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155..
Rick Olseen is the DFL District 17 State Senator from Harris.
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