JACKSON BOARD SETS LEVY INCREASE FOR VOTE

Citing the increasing threat to the financial and academic stability of the district, the Jackson School Board voted unanimously Monday to seek voter approval of a 35-cent increase in the tax levy on April 7.

"The bottom line is we need more money to operate efficiently," said school Superintendent Wayne Maupin.

"This 35-cent levy would sim~ply take us out of a deficit spending trend, allow us to maintain the current staff and (academic) programs, and hopefully, it puts us into a position where we could restore at least a very minimal balance in all our funds."

Maupin said the district has taken numerous steps the past year to cut expenditures. He said further reductions "will have a definite impact on the academic program, the staff and the kids in the school district."

Maupin said when the school year ends June 30, the Special Revenue (Teacher) Fund will end with a zero balance only because the board authorized the transfer of $200,000 from the General Fund to prevent a deficit in the Teacher Fund. That fund receives most of its money from the state.

He warned that if nothing is done, the district faces the prospect of dealing with a zero balance in the General Fund in two to three years.

Maupin noted there was a 10-24 percent reduction in all areas of state funding to the district in the January payments.

"That's a considerable loss to us, and the trend is expected to continue through the end of June," he said.

The district's current tax levy ceiling is $3.20. Of that amount, 58 cents is rolled back under the requirements of Proposition C, leaving a net tax levy of $2.62. Tack onto that amount is the district's 22-cent debt service levy, and that brings the current, actual tax levy to $2.84 per $100 assessed valuation.

If the increase is approved, the tax ceiling would increase to $3.55, but under the Proposition C rollback requirement, the actual levy would be approximately $3.19.

The exact amount of the tax won't be determined until late this summer, when the state auditor's office approves the exact amount of the Proposition C rollback, and the school board sets the tax levy at its first August meeting.

Maupin said the 35-cent increase would raise the property tax on a $50,000 home in Jackson about $33.25 a year.

He noted tax money raised locally is spent locally, at the discretion of the school board, without interference from state or federal agencies.

"I think we're at the point that we cannot wait on the state to help us out," said Maupin. "We must seize the opportunity to help ourselves."

In the unlikely event more state money would come into the district, Maupin said the board has the option of lowering the tax increase. Board member John Lorberg said he recalled several times when past school boards did lower the tax levy when other than local revenues became available.

Maupin said the proposed increase is modest compared with the increases other school districts are asking, or will ask their voters to approve this year.

"They range from 50-80 cents in some districts, and as high as a $1.82 increase in one district," he reported.

"This increase will not make this an Olympian school district, but it will enable us to keep our heads above the water and maintain our current programs and staff. We will also have to continue to watch our spending," he added.

Commenting on the proposal, board member T. Wayne Lewis noted the district "has left no stone unturned in reducing unnecessary spending. We would be remiss if we did not act now."