[Winona Online Democracy] Greetings,
As I indicated in my previous email, the information about the budget impact on schools may change as more analysis becomes available. I will do my best to provide clarified information as I learn of it. So, here's the first clarification . . . The governor's plan does not reduce statewide education funding by 12% (as I indicated in my earlier email). The 12% number is " E-12's share of the overall (5 billion) in spending reductions proposed by the governor". I assume that phrase means there is a proposed reduction of $600 million in E-12 spending (12% of 5 billion -- if I added up all those zeroes properly). But at this time, I do not know, beyond 861, if that interpretation is accurate and what the overall change in state spending on K-12 is under the governor's proposal. -Steve Kranz, Board Member -Winona Area Public Schools ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Kranz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 9:58 AM Subject: [Winona] State Budget Impact on 861 > [Winona Online Democracy] > > Greetings, > > Yesterday I had the opportunity, along with other school board and community > members, to meet with legislators at the capital and receive an update on > how the budget will impact K-12. I know we will receive an update from our > business office at a school board meeting soon, but I wanted to share with > you my initial understanding of how this proposal will impact K-12 in > district 861. I'm not doing this to claim "the sky is falling", but since > it is a very complicated issue I thought it might be good to get information > out so people can begin to understand how the community will be impacted. > > The plan calls for a reduction in funding to Winona Area Public Schools of > $197 per pupil. This amounts to about $850,000 in reduced money to the > district. > > The State will offset that by an addition of $197 in "Transition Money" the > first year of the budget, so the impact on the district will be negligible > the first year. > > In the next couple of years after that, the plan calls for giving school > boards the authority to levy property taxes in the amount of $197 per pupil. > After that, a referendum must be passed to retain the funding. > > It should be noted that the 2.2% increase in funding to schools described in > the Governors plan is NOT an increase in state funding to schools. What the > plan does is adds up all the local referendums that were passed last year by > school districts (to go in effect next year) and divides by the number of > school districts in the state (and calls it a 2.2% increase in per pupil > funding). Overall, though, the plan reduces state funding to K12 by 12%. > > There are other elements of the plan that will result in increased financial > pressure on 861, such as a freeze in Special Education funding and reduced > overall funding in coming years. > > Prior to this plan being introduced, the School Board began the early stages > of a process to reduce our budget by at least $1 million in the coming > year -- in order to keep it balanced. The cuts in the governor's plan can > be added on top of that projection. Because of these existing financial > pressures, it is likely that the School Board would enact significant cuts > in the budget in the coming year and levy to maintain the $197 per pupil > that the proposal allows for in the following year (for those keeping score > . . . yes, this would mean an increase in local property taxes as a result > of the Governor's proposal). Obviously, this would be debated and would > depend on the actual situation a year from now. But even with maintaining > the $197 levy, if current projections hold true, the district would continue > to make significant cuts (beyond the initial $1 million) in the following > years in order to maintain a balanced budget. > > Hope that helps give some idea of the proposal. Keep in mind that this is > my understanding of the budget. It is entirely possible that this > information may change as more analysis becomes available or the Governor's > plan changes due to changing economic conditions. Also, this email does not > discuss the impact on ECFE and Community Education, which is likely to be > significant, as well. > > I'd be happy to answer any questions (or hear any ideas), though. > > Steve Kranz, Board Member > Winona Area Public Schools > > > _______________________________________________ > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. 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