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10/8/2009
Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
Monday, October 12, the School Board is hosting a public hearing on their proposed budget at 6:15 p.m. at Wilson Middle School. Can you be there? It’s time taxpayers said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
The Appleton Area School District (AASD) is proposing a 9.7% increase in the property tax levy for the 2009 – 2010 school year. This at a time of high unemployment, high underemployment, families struggling – and a 0% inflation rate! Why does the school district think taxpayers can afford a 10% levy increase?
Actually, it’s pretty unbelievable! And in a year when the District is educating 220 fewer students than last year. Wow.
One big reason the school district is in budget trouble is that the state, due to its own deep budget troubles, is sending AASD $3 million less in state aids than was received last year. So why would AASD be increasing its budget?
If all of a sudden you have less money coming in at home, do you go out and increase your spending?
And those federal dollars showered on school districts? Some of those dollars were mandated to be spent on new programs (that’s what we need – new programs) and some could be used to fund existing Special Education costs. Instead of those latter dollars being used to offset tax levy increases, they were instead used to increase per pupil spending at a greater rate than allowed by state revenue limits.
(What is AASD going to do when literally all of a sudden, after the 2010 – 2011 school year, those federal dollars are taken away?)
AASD says they’ve cut to the bone. They have 31.5 fewer positions in the 2009 – 2010 budget – and are spending less than the previous year on capital projects, co-curriculars, site budgets and technology.
AASD says they continue to be a very frugal district, spending less per student than similar school districts. Below are a few numbers – I’d say they’re just about at average. And considering that Wisconsin is in the top decile for spending in the country (even with a relatively low cost of living), saying that a school district is average in our state isn’t saying all that much!
State average, total expenditures per student: $11,319. Appleton, $11,191
State average, expenditures per student, net of transportation, capital and debt costs: $9,510. Appleton, $9.481.
Area schools, expenditures per student, net of transportation, capital and debt costs (2008-09, Budgeted)
Appleton, $9,481
Kaukauna, $8,887
Kimberly, $8,726
Menasha, $9,765
Neenah, $9,343
Oshkosh, $9,506
Ok. So with all those cuts and all this frugality, where’s the big increase? Well, you know where it is – where 85% of the budget is spent – on employee compensation. Including way out of line benefits. More on that tomorrow.
But here’s the question. If the federal government is having to borrow everything it spends, spending your children’s money and your grandchildren’s money; if the state is in deep budget trouble, still struggling with billions in deficits and revenues that continue to fall short; if there are 220 fewer students in the system; if businesses are struggling to make payrolls, struggling to stay afloat; if taxpayers continue to struggle in this stubborn recession, cutting back on their budgets; and if students must settle for fewer books, less technology and larger class sizes, why are district employees not sharing in the struggle?
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Is the answer to your last question,
"because they can"? I think so.
This is insanity.
Paul (Thu Oct 08 05:36:25 2009)
So, Jo, you still can't see the connection between campaign contributions causing increased government spending, resulting in reductions in state and federal revenue sharing, and winding up as increases in local taxes? Live with it, or fix it!
Jack Lohman (Thu Oct 08 07:58:36 2009)
If you are about keeping costs under control than how about being crystal clear about what and how much you wish to pay for. What should a teachers salary and benefits be. What extracurriculars are you willing to pay for. Should we have health, safety and sex education in the schools. What about security? Instead of simply squawking about taxes and spending put your money where your mouth is and tell us your standards and plan.
billie (Thu Oct 08 08:03:09 2009)
Yea, I agree Billie. There are both legitimate and illegitimate government expenses, and most of the time when political cash flows you know what category it falls in.
Jack Lohman (Thu Oct 08 09:57:04 2009)
I have a student in the AASD through open enrollment and she was in the district last year through open enrollment and have a family member who works in the district.
I can tell you from my anecdotal experience, that while many of the teachers are excellent and the programs offered are truly some of the finest in the state ... some (if not many) teachers in the district are completely clueless as to how non-state employees have to live & budget.
The first place I would cut with a VERY sharp knife is the absurdly lavish health insurance benefits offered to the faculty. Sorry, but the reality is they ALL need to have some skin in the game. Sound familiar?
While making at a full time 12-month a year job only half of what they get (for 10 months of work - and that's a generous estimate), I was at one time paying $700 / month for my family's health "insurance" and still had a $1,000 deductible PER PERSON. Admittedly this was a terrible plan, but it was the best my very small employer could get for a 'group' of four households.
Put the teacher pay scale and benefit package on par with the averages of households in the community and you'll be off to a REALLY good start in making this an economically viable district.
Jeff R. (Thu Oct 08 10:18:48 2009)
I have to agree Jo. If you took an informal poll of local business I think you would find almost all are struggling with decreased revenue. I think (if I remember right) that teachers are getting 7% over two years.
Most of my friends are lucky to see 7% in 3 or 4 years----if that soon.
I am deeply disappointed that the teachers union does not recognize this and join the administration in a wage freeze.
I am more disappointed that the Board has not encouraged the teachers to share in the state and district's budget difficulties and consider that wage freeze.
This is a time for all good people and role models to come to the aid of their neighbors.
David (Thu Oct 08 11:01:39 2009)
Jo,
Did you find whether the total budget went up? Or did the budget remain the same or go down but because of state aid losses the property tax revenues went up.
dave allen (Thu Oct 08 12:23:36 2009)
Yes Dave. Thought I mentioned it somewhere in the article, but no, didn't include the details. At a time when state revenues decreased significantly (by $3 million), the AASD budget increased from $175,864,671 in 2008-2009 to $178,925,741 in 2009-2010.
Jo (Thu Oct 08 13:26:26 2009)
Jo,
thanks. Then this is clear isn't it. State aid goes down. The budget doesn't. The taxpayers pick up the tab. The next question I have (and I'm not asking you to research but if you have then I'd be interested in seeing it)What areas in the budget went up, stayed the same, went down? Were they mandated items, business as usual items, contractual increases etc? Does anyone know?
dave allen (Thu Oct 08 16:31:36 2009)
I'll have some of that information in tomorrow's post. Primary reason for increase is increase in the teacher compensation package, including an 8.2% increase in insurance premiums. Wow. To a benefit that is already a Cadillac policy - and will now be about a $20,000 cost per family (the employee will pay 5% of that). From today's piece, a quick summary of other budget items:
AASD says they’ve cut to the bone. They have 31.5 fewer positions in the 2009 – 2010 budget – and are spending less than the previous year on capital projects, co-curriculars, site budgets and technology.
The budget is available online, so anyone interested can take a look.
Jo (Thu Oct 09 16:38:15 2009)
What about the lavish salaries paid to union employees? They make about twice what teachers do. I've never been able to figure out why teachers don't see through this.
EMILY MATTHEWS (Thu Oct 08 17:06:08 2009)
Excessive and irresponsible. Administration and union approved two-year contracts for teachers at 4 and 4.5% knowing full well it did not have the money. Board also approved significant and nonscheduled wage increases for staffing throughout the year; again w/o the money to pay for it. A referendum did not pass; however, we have no control over a tax hike. Mouthing meaningless platitudes does not cut it--this is NOT in the "best interests of the children," but a perpetuation of the status quo.
Jo Schmidt (Tue Oct 27 09:18:02 2009)
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