MEETING SET TO DISCUSS TAX HIKE

JACKSON, Mo. -- What residents say at a public meeting Monday could influence whether Jackson school board members push ahead with plans to put a 25-cent tax increase proposal before voters in August.

The board must make a final decision before a May 29 deadline to place the issue on the Aug. 7 ballot.

School officials will make their case for why they need more money at a meeting set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Jackson Middle School cafeteria.

If residents at the meeting are receptive to the idea of a tax increase to cover increased costs to operate buildings and pay staff salaries, school board members probably will vote to seek a tax hike at a board meeting Tuesday, said board president Dr. T. Wayne Lewis.

"From the board's standpoint, we'll be supporting if the people support it," he said.

District superintendent Ron Anderson said he will recommend Tuesday that the board ask voters to waive a tax levy rollback they have received since the state enacted Proposition C, which established a 1-cent education sales tax in 1983.

Districts are required to roll back local levies to offset half of the sales tax.

A Proposition C waiver would mean a tax increase of about 25 cents per $100 assessed valuation, but the additional revenue would not be a cure-all for the district's needs, Lewis said.

"People have continued to say take small bites," he said. "They just need to know we'll have to come back and ask for more later."

Anderson said more money is needed to cover increases in gas costs and utility bills, and to enable the district to hire additional staff members and provide for other needs.

$150,000 shortfall

Deficit spending over the past two years also has lowered reserve balances.

And the financial crunch isn't over yet. School officials expect to have a $150,000 shortfall when the fiscal year ends June 30.

Anderson said patrons need to understand the district's financial picture. Otherwise, they won't understand why the funding request is again resurfacing, despite overwhelming defeats of 40-cent tax levy increases in April and August 2000 elections.

"There's not anything that's been much different than the projections we were making 18 months ago," said Anderson. "The trends haven't changed, but if they have a question, they need to take the opportunity to ask them and become better informed.".

WANT TO GO?

What? Public meeting.

Why? Jackson school levy rollback.

When? 7 p.m. Monday

Where? Jackson Middle School cafeteria