Guest Editorial: Concern for students, education prompts board actions
Shouldn’t the concern be for Red Oak’s students and their education?
Last year, the Red Oak School district implemented the debt service levy for the 2014-15 school year budget, to make the annual payment for the outstanding bonds for the building renovation project voted on in 1999. This was done so that we could save our current sales tax revenue for facilities upkeep and repair, or for a potential, future project. The debt service levy was initially authorized and approved by a vote of the people in 1999. Even with the debt service levy, we were able to lower our overall tax levy in the 2014-15 school year from the 2013-14 school year.
A couple of weeks ago, Roger Carlson wrote in a newspaper article his apology for the current board choosing to use the debt service levy to pay the annual bond payment. I don’t believe an apology was necessary, as I am grateful that the 1999 school board members did what was needed to better the school district. Times have changed and so have our district’s needs. Today’s board has that same goal – to do what is necessary to ensure our students receive the best education possible.
We certainly owe Roger and the 1999-2000 Board a great deal of gratitude for getting the one-cent sales tax passed in Montgomery County for schools.. Inevitably, their action helped Iowa adopt a state-wide penny tax (SAVE) for school infrastructure needs in 2008. This has allowed smaller, rural districts, like Red Oak, access to sales tax dollars that are generated in the more metropolitan areas of the state.
The total property tax levy for the 2015-16 budget is $15.69/$1,000 assessed valuation, a $0.23 drop from 2014-15. This includes the debt service levy and the property tax portion of PPEL. It also assumes a 0 percent increase in state aid. If the legislature provides an increase above 0 percent, the levy will be lowered further.
It has been our practice to try to maintain a steady, consistent levy. This allows the district to weather financial challenges without significantly raising and lowering tax burdens from year to year. This is a common practice used by school boards throughout Iowa. Over the past five years, we have experienced a steady decline in the district’s tax levy.
Funding for Phase 1 of Tiger Vision, the high school addition, is primarily going to be paid with SAVE funds, with a smaller amount of funding coming from voted PPEL funds, which have been in place for many years.
A goal of Tiger Vision is to make the district better, both educationally and financially. Operating five campuses is not financially feasible for our district in the long term, nor is it in the educational best interest of our students. The money required to operate the buildings comes from the general fund, the same funding source that is used for staff salaries. SAVE and PPEL funds cannot be used for general fund purposes. Declining enrollment, inflation and reduced government funding puts a significant amount of pressure on the general fund. This typically results in staff reductions. However, strategic use of SAVE and PPEL funds will reduce the pressure placed on the general fund. We will be better able to consolidate services, utilize staff more effectively and reduce utility consumption. Each of these will go a long way to preserve staff positions, keep class sizes at acceptable levels, and maintain our curriculum offering.
In the coming weeks, the board plans to address questions we’ve received regarding the financing of our district’s needs, the need for the new building addition and the process we used to arrive at our decision to move forward with the Tiger Vision high school addition. This will be published in the Red Oak Express.
The mission of the Red Oak School District is “Excellence for All, Whatever it Takes”. The importance of a quality education for our community’s youth should remain utmost in our duty to ensure that Red Oak remains a thriving community and a great place to raise a family.
Shouldn’t that be our concern?
Sincerely,
Lee Fellers
ROCSD Board President