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While voters approved a renewal and increase for the Richfield Public Schools' operating levy in 2012, another referendum item will be on the ballot in November 2013.
According to the Richfield Sun Current, another funding source is up for renewal next fall—the disrict's technology levy, which supports the cost of machines, infrastructure and associated personnel. The levy will generate $1.3 million in revenue this year school year.
The levy will expire at the end of the 2013-14 school year unless it is renewed by voters. Of course, it's possible the school board will opt to ask for an increase in addition to the renewal, which would result in a property tax increase if passed by voters. The renewal would not cause a hike in property taxes.
Superintendent Bob Slotterback reportedly suggested the need for a levy increase at the Dec. 17, 2012 school board meeting.
"In reality the dollars have been tighter and tighter every year,” Slotterback said in the Sun Current article. (Read the full Richfield Sun Current article here.)
So, Patch asks: Will you support the renewal of the technology levy? Would you support an increase in addition to the renewal?
Take our poll below and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Niemand
8:43 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I would support a renewal but not a increase. I think the school should shift it's resources from traditional training to computerized training. Students need to keep up with technology. Technology is our future.
Caitlin Burgess
9:15 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Just playing devil's advocate here, but I think the idea of a technology levy is to help students keep up with technology by providing instructors and hardware to learn and practice. Are you suggesting the board use money from the operating levy to further technology in the schools? Eliminating teachers and bringing in more sophisticated computers and hardware?
Jeremy Larson
8:45 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I am bias. One child attends R-STEM and our youngest will be there next year. We have been very happy with Richfield schools so far. I would prefer a renewal with no increase, but at the end of the day, I would support an increase as well. The reality is that with inflation, we are asking our school district to do more with less and I would prefer that my property tax dollars go directly to our Richfield school district rather than the district needing to lobby for or rely on more state or federal aid. Let's keep our local community strong by supporting a quality education in our City!
Tomasz Majewski
10:01 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I support our schools. I firmly believe that a sound education - including a focus on technology - is key to our future. However, I have to wonder what other sources of funding there are beyond taxes.
It seem to me that all I ever hear about is how education costs are rising and "therefore" we need to raise taxes to fund our schools. I totally accept that costs are rising - isn't everything? However, I'm not sold on automatic tax increases. It feels as though no one is really forced to think creatively about this problem and the first and only solution that anyone puts forward is more taxes.
I propose that a tax increase is the fall back position for school funding. Not just "plan B," but something that we go to when all else fails. At the same time, I'd propose that cutting expenses (i.e. art, music, PE) be not the first tool we reach for either. I would like to see a group of people from the community - parents, teachers, school administrators, business owners, etc - come together and find more revenue streams for Richfield schools.
Caitlin Burgess
10:13 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Well, we now have fancy football and baseball fields! The football field has been earning rents and according to the board will have a steady stream of rents over the next few years, but much is going to pay down the baseball field improvements and into a fund for eventual turf replacement. So that leaves the possibility of renting out the baseball field. The board hasn't said whether it will for sure do something like this, but I would assume it's going to happen. It's kind of a no-brainer in my opinion.
Eric
1:46 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
I'm in favor of both, sharing the bias of having a child currently in R-STEM although I have always voted in favor of school referendums because I think schools provide the best return on investment when compared to other government functions. The teachers and administrative staff we have interacted with at R-STEM are uniformly wonderful, highly talented and extremely dedicated but they could definitely use whatever help they can get financially. If you want a peaceful, stable, functional community there's no better place to spend money than in the schools, which help our children acquire the skills they need to succesfully navigate adulthood and ultimately give back to the community.