Losses at polls are adding up for schools

02/20/2007

With voters defeating two more ballot measures, two legislators are among those calling for the state to step in.


By Dan Wascoe,
Star Tribune
Last update: February 19, 2007


The backlash against funding schools by raising property taxes continues.

Voters in two more Minnesota school districts last week rejected property-tax increases for construction and operations.

The referendums in the Nevis and Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City districts extended a trend that surfaced in November, when voters around the state rejected 58 percent of districts' requests. That was one of the worst polling place thumpings that school districts have taken in years.

The latest defeats "send a loud, clear message that we need more state funding rather than reliance on property taxes," said Rep. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, chairwoman of the House K-12 Finance Division.

But Charlie Kyte, executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, said the financial demands of special education are swallowing increased state funds that otherwise could be used for general-education needs.

When taxpayers who are aware of increased state funds nevertheless see rising class sizes, teacher layoffs and other cuts, they may question how well districts are being managed, he said. That "slightly rising skepticism" can make some citizens "slightly more disinclined to vote yes" when districts come calling for higher property taxes, he said. "It's a very troubling trend."

With an expected state budget surplus and DFL majorities in both houses of the Legislature, more money is expected to flow into the state's public schools this year. The question is how much and for what.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget would give schools 4 percent more per pupil for each of the next two years. But 2 percent of that money would be tied to high test scores for math and reading. DFL leaders will likely request more money than Pawlenty for basic school funding with no strings attached.

But at least one legislative leader said that state education aid must do more than add money to the per-pupil-aid formula. Sen. Charles Wiger, DFL-St. Paul, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said Friday that more money must be earmarked for the needs of special-education students, whose federally mandated programs are underfunded.

Kyte said he plans to bring about 200 Minnesota superintendents to the State Capitol on March 7 to support fixing the special-education issue.

Nevis Superintendent Steven Rassier said last week's defeat of a bond-issue request for nearly $4.1 million was the fifth in a row, by steadily narrowing margins. The latest loss was by 38 votes out of 1,088 cast.

He attributed the loss to a combination of retirees, low-income households and concern over providing education for students from other districts.

During the losing streak, teachers and administrators have made cuts that have not yet had a big effect on the district's 540 students, he said. "We've made it work," he said. "Maybe that's worked against us."

But building needs make it inevitable that the district will return to voters again, he said, although "maybe not next year or the year after."

If the state paid part of the cost for remodeling and construction, raising the rest from voters would be "a lot easier sale," he said.

In the ACGC district, east of Willmar, voters rejected a proposal to revoke a levy providing $650 per pupil and replace it with one raising $1,445 per pupil. The proposal lost by 110 votes out of 1,996 and was the third unsuccessful attempt in three years to increase operating revenue.

Judy Raske, school board chairwoman, said the measure passed in two of the three precincts but lost in Atwater, where some voters still resent losing their high school to consolidation a decade ago.

The next step could be to modify the proposal and put it before voters again in November, she said.

Another referendum to sell construction bonds is scheduled today in the St. Francis district.