Referendum Costs Explanations
- on 10.07.05
- Winthrop Harbor
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I am going to rehash some old articles from the Daily Herald that shows their analysis of how referendums work and how school districts rake in more money than the voters approved. After you read these articles you decide whether CRAFT and VoteNoTax were telling the voters the truth or whether the District is telling the truth. I believe you will come to the same judgement I have, CRAFT and VoteNoTax are informing the voters of the likely consequences of a Yes vote. They were not making false statements. If you believe they were, then the District should be threatening to sue the Daily Herald as well since their analysis backs up the explanation of the tax rates that both CRAFT and VoteNoTax have been outlining.
- About Their Analysis
- The true cost of a school tax vote (Libertyville/Vernon Hills High School District 128 is highlighted here. This is a Lake County School District.
- How the tax cap worked in District 128
- Rundown of how tax hikes work (Great example of how WHSD1 can also get more than the .39 on the ballot)
- Tax reform bill gaining support (Why is this needed if tax increases are exactly what the voters pass?)
- House leaders may hold tax hearings (Why is this needed if tax increases are exactly what the voters pass?)
- Legislators: Voters’ bills should meet expectations (Quotes by Lake County Clerk Willard Helander in this article. They sound just the opposite of the letter sent to the WHSD1.)
“I do think it’s important that people know, taxpayers know, exactly what they’re asked to
approve,†Lake County Clerk Willard Helander said. “I’m pleased that this will be clarified.â€Helander also said she’s in favor of additional hearings on the proposal, particularly so
experts have a chance to review the wording of the change to guarantee the legislation does
what lawmakers intend.“I think it’s always important to talk to the people who do the job,†Helander said. “Calling in
the tax extenders is very important because the specific language is extremely important.†- Simplified school tax cap would help voters, stop abuse of current system
- True cost of a school tax vote
The loopholes in Illinois law are there. The Daily Herald has detailed them (as well as the print media can). Attempts have been made to close them.
In the situations where school districts/boards take advantage of them and take more money than was advertised during a referendum, it is wrong.
What about situations where a school district/board advertises an amount and only takes that amount? Yes, some believe Big Ed exists and say that all education is corrupt and will take advantage of any situation it can. But isn’t it possible that there are honest school districts that try to work within the complex, underfunded system that exists and do the right thing within those bounds?
I know of one that runs a very tight, lean ship and turns out well educated children. There has never been any evidence of misspending. When/if they come to me through referendum, I will look closer into their finances. It seems that everyone involved (school, Lake County) is being blasted just because the opportunity exists. Just because there is no police car monitoring every stop sign, does not mean that every driver will roll through it. Yes, many people do. But some do not.
Should the loopholes be closed? Yes. Should monitors be in place to prevent wrongdoing? Yes. Should benefit-of-the-doubt of the doubt be given where past records are clean?
One problem becomes if the school district does not take all they are allowed to, it will csot them in State Aid. D158 in McHenry is finding this out right now. They found out after the fact there the increase was going to be much higher than voted on. The school board is trying to keep the promise as voted an and have found out now that it will cost them $14 million if they do.
One of the issues in WHSD1 is the method they are using to go after this referendum. They had to go to court to get it approved, which supposedly was done pro bono. Secondly, they have to pay for the referendum costs. This is supposedly being paid for by Citizens for Quality Schools. My research shows they don’t have enough money raised to pay for it. Lastly, no money will get to the district until next June whether they passed the referendum now or next March. It’s hard to give them the benefit of the doubt with these practices.
I’m with ya and realize I didn’t make my point clear. I do see some mistakes with the WHSD1 situation. I wasn’t inferring that WHSD1 get the benefit-of-the-doubt. There are enough quesionable things in this situation that it might not be possible. It was more of a theoretical question from your point-of-view through this blog (which tends to not trust anyone in education) if;
“But isn’t it possible that there are honest school districts that try to work within the complex, underfunded system that exists and do the right thing within those bounds?”
D158 is another situation all together. Too many factors IMHO to infer inpropriety….rapid growth, changing board members, changing administration, divided community, Larry Snow, unclear budget numbers, etc.
Mark,
IMHO Larry Snow has been good for Huntley. CRAFT has worked with a number of groups investigating school districts across the State. Of those groups that have done some digging they have found fraud and/or mismanagement. That is not say that there is not one out there but we have yet to find one. So yes it is possible. I will say that schools make it very hard for people to investigate them.
Mark,
I agree with Cathy here. The Districts make it very hard to know whether they are doing a good job or not.
I believe the school board here in D 46 is doing an excellent job of uncovering fraud and mismanagement. They restored the programs that had been cut without the referendum. If these board members come back to ask for money to open the new school that is being built, I will most likely support that effort.
I am not against all tax referendums as you think. I am against those where the districts obfuscate the numbers and don’t tell the taxpayers the truth.
Cathy, I didn’t say that Larry Snow wasn’t good for D158, just that he is one of many factors. I do think some of the things that have been uncovered at his iniative have been very good. Not always in agreement with his tactics and attitude, but the end results are good.
Lennie, Glad to hear your position on a situation like D46’s new building and the possibility of supporting a situation where things are transparent. Thanks for the clarification.
“But isn’t it possible that there are honest school districts that try to work within the complex, underfunded system that exists and do the right thing within those bounds?”
I doubt it. There are varying degrees of buffoonery and chicanery (some of the blundering is unintentional), some districts have less than others. The system is not underfunded. With government calling the shots and the strong influnce of teacher unions (and BTW, most teachers good, teacher unions bad), the system is ripe for mass corruption and mismanagement, which is why the districts are all broke, and will continue to be no matter how much more money you plow into them.
The corruption has gotten out of control, much worse than 15 years ago, and won’t stop till the voters have had enough. Of course, the number of taxeaters is close to exceeding the number of taxpayers, and once that happens, the taxeaters will be able to keep those in office who rape the taxpayers to pay the taxeaters.
A common cry from a district running an Ed Fund referendum is how long it’s been since the last one. Board Pres. Leech estimated WHD1’s referendum will last 8 – 9 years. A third of a generation is not that long. And even collecting more than the $0.39 (which will happen after year 1, no, they won’t exceed $0.39 — in year 1), I’ll bet anyone a week’s pay (in today’s dollars) that if the question passes tomorrow, it will be 3 years or less before that’s gone and we’re at this again.