Battle Lines Drawn Over Possible Ladue School Tax Hike

The Ladue School Board has yet to propose an increase in the schools tax, but battle lines of backers and foes were already facing off during a public forum held by the Board of Education Wednesday to discuss the district’s budget woes.

During the town hall session at , several school board members acknowledged what many of the 80 or so district residents in attendance seemed to already know: that the district will soon present a tax increase package to voters.

“I think we really need to look at an operating tax increase,” board member Audrey Mack told the crowd. “April, 2012 seems like a good time to do that.”

Other board members, such as Jayne Langsam, seemed to agree with Mack’s assessment of future board action while others did not make their positions clear.

“We would have our work cut out for us,” said board President Sheri Glantz.

During the forum, residents spoke for and against raising the district’s current operating tax levy of $2.75 per $100 of assessed property valuation. School administrators are considering budget cuts and various revenue enhancements to help bridge a projected $4.5 million budget deficit for the 2011-12 academic year.

“We have the lowest tax rate on the list (of other school districts), and we can afford a tax levy,” resident Lisa Wallace told the board.

“I am against the tax levy,” said resident Jim Squires. “There are members of this community who will work against it.”

“My property value is tied to the performance of the Ladue School District,” said another resident. “If you want to keep the performance of the school district high, we have to raise taxes.”

Other speakers expressed resignation that an operating tax hike may be the only viable option for a district facing a large budget gap.

“I’m not thrilled with a tax increase,” said LeAnn Baker. “But it’s something we may have to do.”

Some residents urged administrators to consider trimming every unnecessary district expense and holding the line on teacher salaries, while others argued against cuts in various areas, including student transportation, athletics programs, music programs, and more.

“You need to look at every cost you have in operating these schools,” Squires said, adding that no expense should be considered to be too large or too small for consideration. “You work for the taxpayers. It’s up to you to do something about it.”

While some parents told the board that certain programs and services, such as student busing, should be exempt from the budget ax, others criticized the board for spending too much on everything from teacher salaries to the lighting in the high school cafeteria where the forum was held. One resident, William Goldstein, said the district is top-heavy with administrators when compared to districts serving Kirkwood, Webster Groves and Pattonville.  Others argued for and against targeting teachers for pay freezes.

No matter the package of spending cuts and revenue increases ultimately to be approved, Jason L. Buckner, the assistant superintendent for business and finance, said the district “will need to cut about $4.5 million if we are to stop the bleeding.”

Buckner and schools Superintendent Dr. Marsha Chappelow began the meeting by detailing the primary factors they said are contributing to the district’s financial problems: rising student enrollment and the economic downturn which has flat-lined property tax income—by far the district’s largest source of revenue.

Chappelow called the Ladue district “the fastest growing school district in St. Louis County” but also one of the smallest in terms of its number of schools.

Buckner outlined steps the district is already taking to reduce costs within its current $50.2 million operating budget but indicated that more will need to be done. Under board consideration are the restructuring of the district’s transportation services, including possible “pay-to-ride” plans, and various grade realignment options.

“We all need to work together on this situation,” said Buckner.