Steve, just like you, I'm a poll worker and have worked polls for over four years now. School referendums are the pits because the votes occur in February, not during the August primary when more people would actually show up. Tom Tiffany is my senator for the Northwoods. He sends out an e-mail every Friday, and I've copied a few paragraphs below which generated my letter to him:
Copied from Tom Tiffany's e-mail 4/1/2016: Sparsity aid was originally created in the 2007-09 budget as a way to help the states rural school districts. Districts receive the aid, $300 per member, if they have fewer than 725 students and less than 10 students per square mile. 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 (biennial budget) eliminated a third criteria requiring at least 20 percent eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Many districts in Northern Wisconsin qualify for the program as school districts can cover vast areas with relatively few school age children. Additional aid through the sparscity program is especially
important in Northern Wisconsin. Unlike urban or suburban school districts, our rural school districts are unable to make use of economies of scale. Our students have to travel great distances to their school, while transportation costs have relaxed lately, this puts great pressure on school district transportation budgets.
Assembly Bill 824 lifts the cap from 725 students to 745 beginning in the 2016-17. In addition, if after the department has paid sparcity aid to currently eligible school districts and there is still a balance remaining, the department shall pay to each school district that received aid in the previous school year but does not qualify in the current year $300 multiplied by the membership in the previous year. Rural school districts have come to rely on sparsity aid but a couple districts have memberships that have grown just above the current cap.
This bill was especially important for the Crivitz School District. Their reported enrollment would have left them four students over the original 725 cap. By passing this bill they will continue to be eligible for Sparsity Aid.
My reason for sending this to you is your recent article in Reality News about school funding and the continual referendum. Hopefully we could generate more interest on this huge issue of tax to change laws so that the process is more transparent and open. I know you're busy. This is just my two cents on this topic.
Regards ~ Shirley Kufeldt
April 18, 2016
Senator Tom Tiffany:
On Friday, 4/1/2016 I received your weekly update and noticed in particular the section on Sparcity Aid. I had heard Dr. Richie, Northland Pines, speak to this issue in January prior to the fourth referendum passed by some voters in Vilas County. I have concerns with both Northland Pines and with this legislation.
NORTHLAND PINES
This is the fourth referendum requested by the school board, and passed by some voters in the district during February. Some Snowbirds vote absentee; many do not.
Vilas County turnout was just 26% of registered voters. Turnout: http://www.co.vilas.wi.us/uploads/Elections/02- 16-16%20turnout.pdf
However, Northland Pines referendum passed as certain voters received frequent reminders by Northland Pines that cuts would be made if the referendum failed.
http://www.co.vilas.wi.us/uploads/Elections/02-16- 2016%20Spring%20Primary%20Election%20Results.pdf
39% Cloverland • 38% Conover • 32% Eagle River • 31% Land O'Lakes
• 37% Lincoln • 36% Plum Lake • 36% St. Germain • 35% Washington
I worked as a poll worker in Conover on 2/16/2106 and heard many voters state they received numerous reminders to vote for the referendum. One Mom told me she and her fiance each received seven reminders from Northland Pines to vote--a total of 14 reminders in just two days!
Retirees: My husband and I are retired and live in a nice home as the result of hard work for a half century by his parents. And now we are to be penalized by higher taxes for zero benefit. In 2014 we paid $2,999.72 to Northland Pines. In 2015 we paid $3,006.31 to Northland Pines.
Vacationers: Most of the Vilas County property taxes (60%) is paid by people who own vacation property, spend just a few months each year in Vilas County and are not an expense to Northland Pines. However, most are unaware of repeated referendums every three years that causes significant funds to leave their checkbook to fund schools their children do not attend.
Referendums: Northland Pines has had nine years of additional funding with three more years to go. In order for the referendum to be fair to all voters, it should be on the ballot during a large turnout election, not February when too many voters (snowbirds) are not aware of the taxable issue on the ballot. If on the ballot in August, summer residents would finally become aware of this significant real-estate tax issue.
Fairness: It should be mandatory state law for school districts to publicize the following information prior to seeking school referendum funding:
- Student population: increase or decrease since last referendum
- Open Enrollment – students enrolling into and out of the district
- Debt / mortgage – repayment schedule
- Number of schools / campus (elementary / middle / high)
- Number of teaching instructors at each campus
- Number of administrators at each campus
- Number of overhead staff at each campus
- Transportation – number of students that require bussing
- Funding dollars and ratio:
- Teaching staff
- Administration
- Overhead
- True cost per pupil including these costs:
- Teaching staff
- Administration
- Overhead
- Available Charter schools in the district
- Number of on-line students
- Availability of Choice Schools for district students Over a year ago I asked Dr. Richie about choice schools. The school district must approve the choice school in order for a family to be eligible for state funding, which must be a public school, nothing else. I told Dr. Richie that limits the parents’ choice. And as a tax payer, it gives me zero choice. I believe I had seen some legislation where funding for choice schools will be rolled out state wide – over a period of 12 years. That’s the entire education cycle of children. Choice is not coming soon enough for too many families.
The need for continued funding raises the question of pay raises in the district. Should a district institute a pay freeze or hiring freeze rather than continually ask for additional funding? Your legislation on sparsity aid is a start. Please consider the following:
If a district exceeds the threshold of 745 students, but does meet the criteria of fewer than 10 students per square mile, USE A GRADUATED SCALE OF REIMBURSEMENT TO THE DISTRICT. Northland Pines has over 1000 students, but less than 10 students per square mile. SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE!
Northland Pines receives less than $100,000 while some school districts receive millions of dollars in STATE FUNDING. Dr. Mike Richie can identify those for you. Thousands of property owners pay significant funds for no tangible benefit
Yes, some districts may scream they are losing state aid. Northland Pines has ALREADY LOST STATE AID because the funding formula works for some, but doesn’t work for us.
Regards, Shirley Kufeldt