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School tax levy will decline, regardless

By HEATHER CLARK
Special to The Gazette
It's good news for Stevens Point Area Public School District residents. Their school tax rates will be lower than anticipated.

The School Board Monday night, Oct. 25, unanimously approved a $58,855,547 budget, down about 1 percent from last year's $59.4 million. That figure is up about $119,000 from what was tentatively approved two weeks ago.

The tax levy also changed, which will mean a lower tax rate than this year regardless of whether the referendum Tuesday passes.

The question is how much.

When residents vote on whether to authorize $54 million in building and remodeling funds and a nearly $3 million per year raise in spending over the revenue caps, they will in effect be deciding how low their new school tax rate will fall.

Previously, the board approved a tax levy of about $21.9 million should the referendum pass, an increase of 5.7 percent over last year's tax levy.

Due to a $898,000 increase in equalized aid and handicap aid, according to Bill Palmer, assistant superintendent for business affairs, the tax levy will drop to $21,326,913, still an increase of 3 percent over last year.

That new tax levy drops the tax rate about 18 cents per $1,000 equalized valuation compared to last year's tax rate should the referendum pass.

That means the tax rate would be $9.43 per $1,000 equalized valuation, about a 2 percent decrease from last year's $9.61 per $1,000. At the last meeting, the board approved a tax rate of $9.68 per $1,000 should the referendum pass.

What would happen to the tax rate if the referendum failed?

The tax levy would be about $20.3 million compared to the $21.9 million last year. The ensuing tax rate would fall 64 cents per $1,000 to $8.97 per $1,000.

In other business, the board voted 7-2 to accept a request for a semester sabbatical leave for Reading Coordinator Rose Ylimaki. She will attend University of Wisconsin-Madison next semester to complete classes for her doctorate degree. The classes were not available during evening hours.

Board members Ray Haas and LeRoy Heiser voted against the request.
The board has an agreement with management support employees that they may take a sabbatical leave if the board believes the reason would be in the best interest of the district and the employee agrees to return to the district for double the sabbatical time.

In the nine years it has been included in contract language, no employee has requested such a leave, officials said.

There would be about a $600 cost to the district to continue some coordination efforts while Ylimaki is gone, however she has contacted people to conduct screenings and assessments while she is on leave, Superintendent Emery Babcock said.

"Rose will be here on weekends. She won't be completely out of the picture, but will oversee it," he said. "It's definitely a benefit to the district because of the reading and also for our language arts program."

Part of the concern on board members' part was whether Ylimaki would commit more than the required one year to the district following her degree.

"It's hard to say in a crystal ball," she told the board, "but I can say this. I have had other job offers - one - and I turned it down. A big part of that is my commitment to the district."

She said she would stay for at least two to three years to complete her dissertation, part of which will be based on work at this site.

"On other personal matters," she said, "I have a house here, I've established close friendships here, and I've moved my elderly parents to this community."

Ylimaki also said that her education would be a benefit to the district for collaboration efforts, strategic planning and financial planning, and leadership.

"I think we're in the business of making investments," board member Mike O'Meara said. "Certainly there's a short-term loss when the person is gone, but when money is tight, you need to have people who can figure out these problems.

"Maybe we don't win on every person we pay to train, but we have to take that chance… if we say we're for education, I think we have to be for education for our staff, too… to be successful," he said.

The board previously voted 4-4 to deny Ylimaki's request. The motion failed due to the tie, which meant she could take the sabbatical leave. Board members consented that it would be better to have all board members present to vote on the issue - O'Meara was excused from the meeting - and brought the matter back to the table Monday. Board President Deb Wilz said additional information presented Monday helped the board in its decision.



	School tax levy will decline, regardless By HEATHER CLARK Special to The Gazette It's good news for Stevens Point Area Public School District residents. Their school tax rates will be lower than anticipated. The School Board Monday night, Oct. 25, unanimously approved a $58,855,547 budget, down about 1 percent from last year's $59.4 million. That figure is up about $119,000 from what was tentatively approved two weeks ago. The tax levy also changed, which will mean a lower tax rate than this year regardless of whether the referendum Tuesday passes. The question is how much. When residents vote on whether to authorize $54 million in building and remodeling funds and a nearly $3 million per year raise in spending over the revenue caps, they will in effect be deciding how low their new school tax rate will fall. Previously, the board approved a tax levy of about $21.9 million should the referendum pass, an increase of 5.7 percent over last year's tax levy. Due to a $898,000 increase in equalized aid and handicap aid, according to Bill Palmer, assistant superintendent for business affairs, the tax levy will drop to $21,326,913, still an increase of 3 percent over last year. That new tax levy drops the tax rate about 18 cents per $1,000 equalized valuation compared to last year's tax rate should the referendum pass. That means the tax rate would be $9.43 per $1,000 equalized valuation, about a 2 percent decrease from last year's $9.61 per $1,000. At the last meeting, the board approved a tax rate of $9.68 per $1,000 should the referendum pass. What would happen to the tax rate if the referendum failed? The tax levy would be about $20.3 million compared to the $21.9 million last year. The ensuing tax rate would fall 64 cents per $1,000 to $8.97 per $1,000. In other business, the board voted 7-2 to accept a request for a semester sabbatical leave for Reading Coordinator Rose Ylimaki. She will attend University of Wisconsin-Madison next semester to complete classes for her doctorate degree. The classes were not available during evening hours. Board members Ray Haas and LeRoy Heiser voted against the request. The board has an agreement with management support employees that they may take a sabbatical leave if the board believes the reason would be in the best interest of the district and the employee agrees to return to the district for double the sabbatical time. In the nine years it has been included in contract language, no employee has requested such a leave, officials said. There would be about a $600 cost to the district to continue some coordination efforts while Ylimaki is gone, however she has contacted people to conduct screenings and assessments while she is on leave, Superintendent Emery Babcock said. "Rose will be here on weekends. She won't be completely out of the picture, but will oversee it," he said. "It's definitely a benefit to the district because of the reading and also for our language arts program." Part of the concern on board members' part was whether Ylimaki would commit more than the required one year to the district following her degree. "It's hard to say in a crystal ball," she told the board, "but I can say this. I have had other job offers - one - and I turned it down. A big part of that is my commitment to the district." She said she would stay for at least two to three years to complete her dissertation, part of which will be based on work at this site. "On other personal matters," she said, "I have a house here, I've established close friendships here, and I've moved my elderly parents to this community." Ylimaki also said that her education would be a benefit to the district for collaboration efforts, strategic planning and financial planning, and leadership. "I think we're in the business of making investments," board member Mike O'Meara said. "Certainly there's a short-term loss when the person is gone, but when money is tight, you need to have people who can figure out these problems. "Maybe we don't win on every person we pay to train, but we have to take that chance… if we say we're for education, I think we have to be for education for our staff, too… to be successful," he said. The board previously voted 4-4 to deny Ylimaki's request. The motion failed due to the tie, which meant she could take the sabbatical leave. Board members consented that it would be better to have all board members present to vote on the issue - O'Meara was excused from the meeting - and brought the matter back to the table Monday. Board President Deb Wilz said additional information presented Monday helped the board in its decision.