"No New Taxes!"

ANSWER:

Quick Answer - The District has been very frugal with the money that was given to them.  They have worked to make the operating money provided last MUCH longer than most districts, and went back to voters for their confirmation often.   

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Instead of continuing levies, the school has had 5 year levies, which come back up for approval - like the one in 2021.  That isn't new money, that is just the same money they have been getting for many years (which means that the effective rates of that money is substantially less than what it was when originally requested).  The District hasn't been approved for new standalone operating money since 2003.  They were approved for a percentage (8%) of the Earned Income Tax that was approved in 2008.  They have asked four times for standalone operations levies since 2003, and been rejected each time.

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Long Answer - The District has asked for funds from the voters 18 times in the last 20 years.  All but three of those requests have been renewal requests. 

The last new money that was requested was in 2008, which was the Earned Income Tax proposed for funding the new schools with a small portion (8%) going to operations.

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• Nov, 2003 - 5 Year - Operating Levy - NEW - PASSED

• Nov, 2005 - 5 Year - Permanent Improvement (3.9 mill) - Renewal - PASSED

• Nov, 2006 - Continuing - Operating Levy Replacement - FAILED

• Feb, 2007 - Continuing - Operating Levy Replacement - FAILED

• Aug, 2007 - 5 year - Operating Levy - Renewal - PASSED

• Mar, 2008 - 5 year - Operating Levy - Renewal - PASSED

• Nov, 2008 - Continuing - Earned Income Tax - NEW - PASSED

• Nov, 2010 - 5 Year - Permanent Improvement (3.9 mill) - Renewal - PASSED 

• Nov, 2011 - 5 year - Operating Levy (17 mill) - Renewal - PASSED

• Nov, 2012 - 5 year - Operating Levy - Renewal - FAILED

• May, 2013 - 5 year - Operating Levy (10.9 mill) - Renewal - PASSED

• Nov, 2015 - 5 Year - Permanent Improvement (3.9 mill) - Renewal - PASSED

• Nov, 2016 - 5 year - Operating Levy (17 mill) - Renewal - PASSED 

• Nov, 2017 - 5 year - Operating Levy (10.9 mill) - Renewal - PASSED

• Nov, 2020 - 5 year - Permanent Improvement (3.9 mill) - Renewal - PASSED

• Nov, 2021 - Continuing - Operating (17 mill) - Renewal/change - PASSED

• Nov, 2022 - Continuing - Operating (10.9 mill) - Renewal/change - PASSED

• Nov, 2023 - 7 year - Avoid Operating Deficit Levy (7.62 mill) - NEW - FAILED

• Mar, 2024 - Continuing - Earned Income Tax - NEW - FAILED

As it is clearly noted within the above requests, the school only has the following levies:

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• Two(2) operating levies - 27.9 mills

  • 17 Mills

    • Approved - 2003, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2021

    • 5 Year; In 2021 it was made continuing

  • 10.9 mills

    • Approved - 2007, 2013, 2017, 2022

    • 5 Year; In 2022 it was made continuing

• Two (2) Permanent Improvement Levies

  • 3.9 Mill

    • Approved - 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020

    • 5 Year Levy - next approved 2025

  • 1.25% Earned Income Tax Levy

    • 92% to PI, 8% to Operations

    • Approved - 2008

    • Continuing

The revenue that is generated from the Permanent Improvement Levies CANNOT be used for operations.  

This new Earned Income Tax levy will allow the school to utilize the new funds for operations, which includes teacher salaries, service costs, and general upkeep costs - which is where many of the cost increases are being seen. 

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This is only a portion of the necessary funding to cover all of the increased costs that are burdened by the District.  With the State mandates and reduced State funding, there will continue to be challenges and the District will continue to need to determine if additional funds are necessary.