By Lori Ehde
If Luverne School District residents vote "yes" on the proposed excess levy referendum next month, they'll be voting for a tax increase.
That's what the ballot will tell them.
By law, the ballots must be printed with that statement, but many district taxpayers will see a decrease in their taxes despite the school levy.
That's the message the district will try to get to voters before they head to the polls Nov. 6.
In addition, the district will work to convey the urgency of voting yes for the financial health of the district.
Given the direction of state funding for education, the excess levy referendum will simply protect programs and services in place, according to District Financial Officer Marlene Mann.
A no vote may mean several years of additional cuts.
Voters will be asked to approve a $400-per-pupil excess levy that would amount to approximately $234,000 asked of Luverne School District property owners.
If the excess levy is approved by voters, it will generate roughly $635,000 for the district. The local effort would be nearly 37 percent of that, or $234,000, with the balance coming from state aid.
"It's important to know it's a matched effort from the state," Mann said. "If you put down 37 cents you get 63 cents back."
District residents with a $50,000 home will pay $64 toward the new levy. Those with a $100,000 home will pay $128, and $200,000 homeowners will pay $256.
But many of these taxpayers, particularly those with farms and businesses, won't see these increases on their property tax statements.
According to Mann, district residents will see a decrease in the amount they'll pay for education next year. That decrease is due to a state shift of school funding from property taxes to sales and income tax.
She said the excess levy will be relatively painless for local taxpayers, but it will be priceless for the district in terms of guaranteed revenue when all other sources are shaky.
She said shifting school funding to sales and income tax looks good to local property taxpayers, but she said those funding sources are vulnerable to the economic health of the state.
Further, she said the district's own revenue sources are uncertain when student enrollment is projected to steadily decline.
Despite last year's $328,000 in cuts, the Luverne District's revenues still fall short of expenses by more than $100,000. Expenses such as fuel and health insurance have affected all districts.
That, combined with state support not meeting inflation and rising expenses, adds up to a projected $120,000 shortfall by the end of this school year.
Each Luverne School District property taxpayer will receive a mailing outlining the details of the proposed levy. Questions can be directed to the district office, 283-8088.
The special election will be from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the middle school-high school gymnasium.
The proposal requires a 50 percent plus one majority to pass. If approved, the levy would be in effect for 10 years.
In personnel matters, board members...
Approved Oct. 5 unpaid leave of absence for paraprofessional Sharon Bouwman.
Approved the following coaching assignments: Corey Nelson will be varsity and B squad boys' basketball coach. Kim Schmidt and Gordy Hansen will coach and ninth- and eighth-grade boys' basketball, respectively. Lee Chaffee is hockey head coach. David Kraft is track assistant. Wade Hiller is varsity baseball assistant. Al Brinkman is varsity assistant and head B squad coach for girls' basketball. Tina Egland will coach ninth-grade girls' basketball.
In other business Thursday...
Teachers Kim Schmidt and Wade Hiller gave a presentation on Luverne School District's web site, www.isd2184.net. Schmidt said it allows the school to communicate with the public. Peer Helpers Brent Van Aartsen, Tom Bouwman and Aaron Schmidt help with the site.
Elementary Principal Melody Tenhoff reported 42 people attended Family Reading Night Tuesday, Oct. 2. Last year, she said the activity drew 20 at most. "To have 42 was just fabulous," she said.
A patriotic character building assembly is planned for 1:15 Wednesday, Oct. 24. Tenhoff said some Army personnel will participate, and she is looking for as many uniformed military personnel as possible to join them. They can call her at 283-4497.
Middle School Principal Dave Deragisch reported that at the volleyball jamboree he charged fees and brought in $400. The activity used to be free. "Instead of costing the district $700 we made $400, so we can look at that as a net gain of $1,100," he said.
High School Principal Gary Fisher reported on a domestic violence role-playing exercise students participated in. He said it taught valuable lessons. "High school students do not come forward to say they've been abused - they're embarrassed," Fisher said. "But there are places they can go and people they can talk to."
Curriculum Coordinator Jan Olson said midterms have gone out and that the district Web site has been a useful tool for communicating with parents.