Jackson district to try levy adjustments

Like school districts around the state, Jackson knows a hard truth: If more funding isn't found soon, programs and staff are in jeopardy. District officials are hoping voters will help.

In an effort to generate more money for operating expenses, the Jackson School Board has agreed to ask voters in a Nov. 4 election to eliminate the district's Proposition C rollback in the operating levy.

District officials say removing the rollback would generate an additional $950,000 a year in local property tax revenue without raising taxes overall, as well as an additional $1 million in state funding, which is tied to the local tax.

The district's superintendent, Dr. Ron Anderson, said the rollback wouldn't solve any major problems. The inference is that much more money is needed. In other words, the rollback would only be a Band-Aid, but one that might help offset the $400,000 in lost revenue due to state funding cuts.

District officials expect the state funding situation to be worse next year, with predictions of $1.4 million less in state aid and even further reductions the next year.

Jackson has already eliminated 17 teaching positions and done away with maintenance projects and technology purchases. The rollback would help Jackson keep the programs and staff they have now.

By way of background, Proposition C was approved in 1982. It created a 1-cent sales tax to provide funding for public education in Missouri.

School districts were expected to roll back local levies to offset the state sales tax. But voters also were given the option of canceling the rollback.

Eliminating the rollback is an option not exclusively being considered in Jackson. In fact, in Northwest Missouri two school districts earlier this month already approved such a measure.

The Cainsville and South Nodaway County districts each had a Proposition C rollback votes that were approved.

The South Nodaway County School District plans to place the more than $90,000 in local and state aid it will receive in its general operating fund to help compensate for the decrease of about $123,000 in state funds.

In Cainsville, approving the elimination of the Proposition C rollback will increase the tax levy by 49 cents.

Those two districts are a good indication that voters can be persuaded.

Voters should especially realize that, in Jackson's case, there would be no tax increase because the district plans to its debt-service levy to offset the Proposition C rollback and maintain the current $3.31 levy for each $100 of assessed valuation.

The district has come up with a smart way to raise operating funds it feels are vital to meet its needs. We'll find out whether Jackson voters agree on Nov. 4.