I ask you to vote "Yes" Tuesday, Nov. 8 for the benefit of our schoolchildren. Good schools are important for our children's success and the success our neigborhood. This is an important issue for all of us, even if you don't have children attending school in the district. Please vote Yes!
According to ISD 624,
The Renewal Referendum with no tax increase scheduled for November 8
On July 11, our School Board unanimously passed a resolution to schedule
a local operating levy renewal referendum (not a tax increase) for this
November 8. This vote will be a renewal of the same question that was
strongly supported by our community in the fall of 2007.
Approximately 15% of our revenue comes from this local operating levy.
In a time when the state will borrow 40% of our state funding by
shifting payments to the future, the stability provided by renewal of
this local operating levy is critical to continuing on our current path
of rapidly rising student achievement. Without this local tax levy, our
students would face significant increases in class sizes, some school
sites would close and consolidate with remaining schools, and program
opportunities would be dramatically reduced.
6 facts to know about the local operating levy renewal:
- The local operating levy approved by voters in 2007 is expiring after this year.
- The School Board unanimously passed a resolution to ask local voters to renew the existing operating levy this November 8.
- A successful local operating levy renewal will not increase taxes.
- We are not alone. More than 90% of Minnesota school districts have local operating levies.
- A successful local operating levy renewal will help maintain current class sizes and programs.
- Failure to renew the levy will result in a 15% reduction in
revenue and cause higher class sizes, closure and consolidation of some
school sites, and fewer program opportunities for students.
Promises kept.
Since the last levy referendum in 2007, the District followed through on its promises to the community:
- Lowered elementary class sizes.
- Restructured middle school, offering world language choices for students in grades six, seven and eight.
- Restructured high school, ending study halls and increasing time in core academic classes.
- WBLAHS offers 30 college-credit courses.
Community Leaders Endorse Renewal of Levy
" Community leaders have endorsed the White Bear Lake Area Schools Local Operating Levy Renewal, which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Resolutions have been passed by Hugo City Council, Vadnais Heights City Council, White Bear Lake City Council, White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce and Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation. Other community organizations are considering similar resolutions.
The resolutions recognize the successes of White Bear Lake Area Schools students, financial stewardship of our District, and the fact that the levy renewal scheduled for November 8 will not increase current taxes. Hugo mayor Fran Miron remarked during the Hugo City Council meeting, “The City of Hugo supports the levy renewal because we know that strong schools equal strong communities.”
Vadnais Heights leaders had a similar discussion. “The Vadnais Heights City Council recognizes the importance of a good educational system,” said Gerry Urban, Vadnais Heights city administrator. “For this reason, the council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the White Bear Lake Area Schools local operating levy renewal.”
The White Bear Lake City Council also voted unanimous support.
In addition, several of the school district’s representatives in the Minnesota House and Senate, both Republicans and Democrats, have publicly supported the renewal levy. The Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation also endorsed the levy referendum.
The school district is asking voters to approve renewal of a property tax levy that brings in $14 million a year. Renewing the existing levy will help maintain current programs and class sizes with no increase in taxes. If approved, it would continue for six years."
