MASON CITY – Due to the fact that the Mason City School District has once again adopted a policy of not releasing information in a timely manner, if at all, to NorthIowaToday.com, Publisher Matt Marquardt called the Iowa Department of Management’s Statewide School Finance Officer for answers, seeking a truer picture on the financial condition of the school district.
On September 10th, Mason City voters will head to the polls to decide on two new levies against property owners: An Instructional Support Levy (ISL) and a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL).
PPEL
If approved, the PPEL levy will be 67 cents per $1000.00 valuation on property taxes, for 5 years. Uses for the funds and interest earned on the funds raised under both the regular and voter-approved physical plant and equipment levies include: Purchase and improvement of grounds; Improvement of grounds; Purchase, lease or lease-purchase of single unit of equipment or technology exceeding $500 in value; Payment of debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds; Procuring or acquisition of library facilities; Repairing, remodeling, reconstruction, improving or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; Expenditures for energy conservation; The rental of facilities under Chapter 28E and more.
ISL
If approved, the amount of the ISL would be for 5 years and may not exceed 10 percent of the regular program district cost, including the budget adjustment/guarantee for the budget year. Dollars generated by the ISL may be used for any allowed general fund purpose, excluding dropout prevention programs, talented and gifted programs, physical plant and equipment levy uses, management levy uses and special education negative balances.
BACKGROUND
Earlier this year, School Superintendent Anita Micich said she was “worried” about the future and how the district will “pay the bills.” A fairly dire picture of the school districts’ finances was painted by district officials. A spectacle was made at a Mason City School Board meeting where the jobs of dedicated coaches and teachers were put on the line; some contracts for educators were terminated. Superintendent Micich said earlier this year that because Mason City does not have an ISL, “Your tax reserves are starting to dwindle.” Micich went on to say “That’s a very low tax rate” as the tax rate from the school district assessed against property owners was set to fall below $12.00 per $1,000 of valuation. (SEE VIDEO)
Months later, Superintendent Micich and other school administrators took a 2.5% pay increase. (SEE VIDEO)
STATE OFFICIAL DISCLOSES MCSD FINANCIAL INFORMATION
NorthIowaToday.com Publisher Matt Marquardt called Des Moines on Thursday, August 8th, and spoke with Lisa Oakley, the Iowa Department of Management’s Statewide School Finance Officer. “I wanted some straight talk, some real answers, no spin,” Marquardt said. “I can’t get that here in Mason City. It’s really very sad that this level of secrecy exists when so much is on the line for taxpayers, parents, teachers, and children. The people are owed the truth, and I’m looking for it.”
Ms. Oakley stated that school financing is complicated. Basically, the Mason City School District (MCSD) gets a baseline dollar amount of $6,073 for each enrolled student in the district. These dollars come from property taxes and state aid. In addition, MCSD gets about $120 (2% allowable growth in 2014; up to 4% in 2015) and another $120 per student from another source. That brings the total to $6,313 per enrolled student for fiscal year 2014. Ms. Oakley indicated that Mason City’s funding is based on an enrollment on 3,751.1 students.
Ms. Oakley said that the MCSD will have estimated revenues of $49 million for fiscal 2014. The MCSD is also carrying forward a balance of $27 million dollars. For fiscal year 2014, the MCSD has roughly $76 million at its disposal with a budget (total expenditures) of $67 million. She confirmed that after the 2014 school year, again a rough estimate, the MCSD will have a $8.8 million surplus or funds left over.
Ms. Oakley also described how MCSD takes in “millions” of dollars each year in federal aid and other sources. Some of those sources include: tuition, earnings on investments, grants, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other federal sources.
Ms. Oakley also said that the MCSD has a long-term debt of $54.935 million.
View the downloadable document here.
jeeeze, cool it you guyz
What I get from most people is that they don’t want to be paying for administrator, teacher and staff salaries. So, look at the information that Matt provided. The money cannot be used for those purposes.
I still not sure how I will vote. I really need to think about this and decide how it will benefit the children and directly impact their education.
I also know that most bitchers aren’t voters. So, those who just rant and rave rarely effect any real change.
So, if people really want to see changes in the schools or city government, they need to be sure they are registered to vote and then get their butts to the polls….
Matt, let’s mobilize a Register to Vote Campaign– I know it would benefit you and potential candidates out there!!!!
12 bucks per thousand valuation = $1200.00 increase for a $100,000 home – chicken feed?
can you read?
Minimum Average pay 300 bucks per day plus free health insurance -iper retirement – As Nero said -Folks we have got the golden goose.
Good job Matt. It is a shame that you had to go to the state level to get at the truth. However, I guess it doesn’t surprise me very much. Greed and corruption seem to run through all of the Mason City systems and of course lying to the public has become a way of life here. We get it from the schools and the current city administration. Thank again for a job well done. Where is the Glob on this type of investigative reporting???
Great job again Matt. Money left over and still crying for more. This is socialism at is’t worst.