School Board Puts Stamp on 1% Levy Hike

About a month ago, the Geneva Patch headline for the Monday night School Board meeting was "School Board Votes 6-1 to Increase Levy 1 Percent."

In the interest of going green, we can recycle that headline, because there were no changes of position, either from the board or the tax-watchdog group that consistently has campaigned for a zero percent levy.

On Nov. 11, the School District 304 board voted 6-1 to pass a resolution to seek a 1 percent levy increase. Board members followed through with that resolution Monday night via a formal vote.

School Board member Mike McCormick cast the lone dissenting vote in both instances. Although out of town on business, he attended via telephone conferencing and did not seek further discussion of the levy.

"I voiced my concerns two weeks ago," he said.  

Back in November, officials estimated the property-tax bill for the owner of a $315,000 home would go up more than $300 next year.

The ongoing spending philosophies of the board and the Geneva TaxFACTS organization were unchanged, as well.

In broad strokes, the School Board has taken a middle-ground position, choosing not to increase the levy by the full amount allowed under tax-cap legislation but choosing against a zero percent increase. This year, the board could have approved a levy as high as 1.7 percent, based on the Consumer Price Index.

TaxFACTS members argued Monday that school enrollment is down and assessed property values are declining, yet the district continues to ask for more property-tax dollars — a situation they say wouldn't happen if the School District were run like a business.

School Board member Dave Lamb, who was elected in 2012, pointed out that the district is between a rock and a hard place, with 70 percent of its operations budget going to salaries and benefits, and ongoing debt incurred by school-construction referendums in 2007 and earlier. Much of that debt can't be refinanced until the bonds are called.

While holding the line on the "touchable" expenditures, the district plans to use part of its operating funds to pay back, or "abate" some of the debt. It will have to dip into some of its reserves, Lamb said, to continue operations.

"We’re actually doing what I kind of wanted to do," he said. "When I look at this, I think we’re levying what we should at 1 percent. And with this abatement plan, we’re going to be drawing down on our reserves."  

On Monday night, former mayoral candidate and TaxFACTS co-founder Bob McQuillan said in the public comments session that he wouldn't address the levy because "it’s a foregone conclusion."

"I’ve never challenged the quality of education, (but) I have and will continue to challenge the definition of controlling costs," he said. "The 'it’s all about the children' battle cry has been replaced by the phrase, 'we understand what the taxpayers are going through.' It’s hard to understand how the board and administration are doing everything possible to control costs."

School Board President Mark Grosso took exception to that and other statements.

"I’ll tell you what, we’ve had administrators, teachers and bus drivers take pay freezes," he said. "And we’d be in a lot worse shape if our employees hadn’t taken a pay freeze. We took a balanced approach to the budget. I’m satisfied with the amount we’re asking for this year."

During the board meeting Monday, students were honored with the board's Tradition of Excellence Award, and many seats were filled by parents, students and family members who had come to see the award presentations. During the public comments period that starts the meeting, TaxFACTS member Sandra Ellis noted their presence and applauded the students' achievements but didn't hold back on criticism of the board's budget policies.

"If an award were presented tonight for increasing the tax levy for 10 straight years, it would be appropriate," she said. "That’s not the kind of award that would make everyone proud. Before the final vote is taken, ask yourself, when are you going to stop the trend?"