Senator Miller's Re-Election Campaign Has Begun 8.19.11

Clearly, Senator Pat Miller has the belief that going on the attack and publicly criticizing the Franklin Township School Administration will win her re-election.  Otherwise, how could one explain the use of her campaign funds to mail letters to all residents in the community she represents and the repeated editorial articles in The Franklin Township Informer.  Senator Miller has been extarodinarily vocal on this issue.  Quite honestly, I can't remember many times where she was visible in Franklin Township prior to this issue.  We've heard more from Pat in the last 30 days than in the last 10 years combined.  Could it be because the restructuring of the boundaries for election reduced her area of representation primarily to Franklin Township?  Possibly.  Or, maybe she has just become a passionate advocate for our children and our community with a newfound sense of responsibility to do what is best in our school system.  If that is the case, I look forward to supporting her in her battle at the state level to fight for Franklin Township students when the legislature reconvenes.  After all, she must recognize by now the school administration will not change the course of action they laid out to the public well before the referendum vote.  Most now have a clear understanding the board wasn't bluffing - there will not be bus transportation funded by the schools as we are over a week into the school year and nothing has changed.


In my opinion, Senator Miller is banking on the idea of keeping the uninformed residents of Franklin Township riled up, but the tide is turning and pressure is mounting on her.  Those who have taken the time to educate themselves by doing their own homework and having direct conversations with Senator Miller to ask her the tough questions... they are seeing this isn't a local issue.  This is a big problem the state has generated... and they have no reasonable answers.  Why?  Because they honestly did not foresee the impacts of the property tax caps.  That in itself is okay.  You can't foresee every problem.  It is the fact that Pat Miller and other representatives ignored the pleas of the school system since the first conversations about the idea of tax caps - when everyone knew the impact of this long ago - that is what has made this a state problem.


You don't have to listen to me.  The rest of this blog entry will not be my made up of my providing you with information or sharing my opinions.  Rather, it will be information and opinions from 3 other people.  The first two will be emails shared with me from Franklin Township Residents Paige Green and Todd Colip.  Paige recaps a direct conversation she had with Senator Miller and Todd shared a message he sent directly to Senator Miller.  The third piece of information is Dr. Bourke's Message to the Franklin Township Community in reply to the accusations made by Senator Miller.


PAIGE GREEN

Greetings,

As many of you opened your mail today, you found a letter from Senator Pat Miller.  Senator Miller is voicing her disapproval of the transportation situation.  Immediately, I contacted Senator Miller.  I asked her to outline her five alternative solutions.  Three of the solutions involve borrowing more money or extending the period for the current debt.  Borrowing more money does not seem like the path to balanced budget. 

The fourth solution was to use the district's Rainy Day Fund.  I reminded Senator Miller that the State currently has over a billion dollars in its Rainy Day Fund.  Then, I asked why the State's elected officials aren't distributing that money to the school districts.  She had no response.

The fifth solution involved legislation.  Unless she has authority to call a special session, nothing will happen before 2012 when our state reps and senators reconvene.

I do hope others will find a few minutes to contact Senator Miller.

Below is Geoff Horen's comments regarding the transportation situation.  I hope you find his history lesson helpful.  Our school system is one of the best in Indiana.  The teachers and administrators need our support to continue this success.  Take just a minute to contact a teacher, staff member or administrator to voice your support and appreciation for his or her work and accomplishments. 

Sincerely,

Paige


DR. BOURKE

Dear Neighbor,

Students have returned to Franklin Township Community School Corporation, Marion County’s number one school district, for the 2011-2012 school year. The faculty and staff begin the school year enthused, despite all of the changes forced by massive budget reductions, knowing that their dedication and hard work sets the bar for academic success in Marion County. If you have not heard, your Franklin Township schools ranked No. 1 among county schools for the 2010-2011 school year.

By now, you are probably aware that the school district not only had to close three schools, it had to cease the service of general transportation for its students this school year. These are changes that have been predicted for years as a result of Indiana’s school funding formula and dwindling property tax revenue. Transportation is still available for a fee by contracting with a driver through Central Indiana Education Service Center (CIESC), a state agency that assists school districts in sharing services and cooperative purchasing.

Last week most of the community received a letter from the Pat Miller For State Senate Committee. In her letter, Sen. Miller is highly critical of the efforts by the Franklin Township Board of Education to balance its budget and preserve educational programs.  As a resident and taxpayer in Franklin Township and Superintendent of its schools, I would like to address several issues that Sen. Miller mentions, but fails to explain.

In a cooperative effort to provide transportation, FTCSC sold a number of buses to CIESC for $1. We did this so the CIESC did not have to purchase buses at a much higher cost. That higher cost would have been passed on to the parents with a higher fee. What Sen. Miller fails to state in her letter, though she is aware of this fact, is that sales contract for the buses stipulates that they can only be used to transport FTCSC students.  It also stipulates that should CIESC ever cease providing transportation for our students that FTCSC can buy the buses back for the same price $1. In 2010-2011 the cost of transporting a child aboard our buses was approximately $550 per year.

In a comparable situation, it is interesting to note that Sen. Miller’s supportive vote of the charter school legislation this past session allows for our three temporarily unused vacant school facilities to be sold for $1. Once these schools are permanently sold to these private charter school groups, FTCSC loses them. These are school buildings that we may need again and for which you paid.

Sen. Miller in her letter also points to the fact that FTCSC has $17 million in its Rainy Day Fund (RDF), which is true. The board and I have worked hard to move as much money to that fund as we could the past few years to prepare for today and our future.  During 2011 we will receive $16.6 million (36%) less than what the Department of Local Government Finance certified as necessary to pay for our property tax fund operations.  Once we pay our debt and our utilities not only is our transportation fund left at zero, so is our Capital Projects Fund (CPF). It is from the CPF that we pay for all of the costs associated with classroom technology, instructional equipment, and for all maintenance and repair to facilities and equipment.  We plan to use the RDF to reduce the burden on our General Fund for the foreseeable future.  If we use the RDF dollars to support Transportation, within approximately five years the RDF will be gone, and we will be back to eliminating transportation, cutting teachers and quality programs again to pay for CPF expenses. The voters have told the district twice – “balance the budget.” 

In an effort to solve the FTCSC financial crisis, Sen. Miller recently hosted a public meeting with representatives from several organizations just a few weeks before the first day of the 2011-2012 school year. Here are some of the options that were generated from that meeting and Sen. Miller supports.

The first option was to use our Rainy Day Fund.  I have already addressed reasons for rejecting this option.  Options 2 and 3 involved an interest free loan for $6 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund or from the Common School Fund.  Six million dollars will only fund transportation for two years and would have to be repaid within six years.  This is really no different than spending our Rainy Day Fund

The fourth option is a new law that allows school corporations to restructure their debt by extending it over an additional 10-year period of time.  This is similar to stretching a 30-year home mortgage to a 40-year mortgage. This sounds good at first until you realize that the additional 10 years of interest payments will add an additional $150,000,000 to FTCSC’s debt, according to the State’s own budget consultants. To do this, a community petition and remonstrance process would need to be supported. This proposed debt restructuring would result in everyone paying more taxes for a longer period of time. That is not what the taxpayers in Franklin Township want. 

The fifth option is to work with the legislature to pass new laws that would alleviate the tremendous negative impact of property tax caps on FTCSC (the highest in the State).This is not a new option and is one that FTCSC has been trying to do for several years. FTCSC has been asking the legislature, including Sen. Miller, to address the discrepancies in the school funding formula for years. And when the impact of the property tax cap became clear, we pleaded for assistance. The legislature failed to respond or help.  Sadly, state funding for FTCSC only slightly improved after the district joined other school corporations in suing the State for lack of uniformity in funding. 

I encourage you to call me if you have questions regarding any of these issues. I can be reached at 862-2411.  I also encourage you to call Senator Pat Miller at 894-7023 to ask for her support to restore adequate funding for education and services to families in FTCSC.

And, please take the time to thank Franklin Township educators who continue to provide your kids with the best public education in Marion County.

Sincerely,

Walter D. Bourke

 TODD COLIP

Senator Miller,

I am going to try to keep this short...

It is my opinion that your letter I received last night is absolutely irresponsible for someone that we are counting on for leadership at the state level.

First of all there were not 300 people at the July 26 meeting.  I was there as well.

Secondly...your comment about the selling of the buses $1 is a blatant misrepresentation of the facts. You know good and well that there is so much more to it than that...There are several other terms of the agreement that do more good than harm.  These things help me draw my conclusion that this letter is a feeble attempt at making sure the folks that are uneducated on this subject become angry, remain uneducated and they will hopefully not direct their concerns to you and your peers at the state level for the huge part they have played over the years, in helping to create the catastrophe that we are dealing with in Franklin Township.  For someone in your position to attempt to place the blame of this situation solely on the shoulders of Dr. Bourke and the current school board members in completely thoughtless.  I have been close to this situation for the last 7-8 years and know (as well as I hope you do) that there are several factors that have lead us to this point. (State, local, school corp, unprecedented growth, tax caps, housing bubble, flawed funding formula, lack of commercial development, overall economy, previous admin., overspending, apathy) While it would be hard to get the entire public in Franklin Township to sit still long enough to allow someone to give them all of the facts... I take great exception to the fact that you have used this situation to try to gain votes from the people that don't know all of the facts.  If you are looking to appeal to the uneducated voter, that is your choice..., it is a gamble.  I can tell you with great certainty, based on feedback that I have been involved in for the last 24 hours, that you have lost numerous votes from educated members of this township and I am one of them. 

This is another reason that I am also a huge advocate for TERM LIMITS!!!

Respectfully,

Todd Colip

First Day Of School... Transportation Gridlock 8.10.11

Hello everyone. 

Ahhh, the first day of school - Smiling teachers… Excited Children… Gridlock across Franklin Township.  I can’t remember a time where there was so much media coverage of Franklin Township.  My only recollection might have been when I stepped off the bus as a 5^th grader at Wanamaker Elementary many, many years ago on the first day of school desegregation with cameras everywhere covering the historic first day.

I did some research last week because I have been mad about transportation challenges in Franklin Township for the last 10 years, but for a reason different than all of you.  Here’s a history lesson that will be short and sweet.  Actually, much shorter than the traffic lines we must navigate to deliver our children to school.

I began my Franklin Township School Board service in July of 2004.  In September of 2004, the Franklin Township School Board submitted an appeal to the State of Indiana for additional transportation funds.  It had made the same request of the State of Indiana in both 2002 and 2003.  Each year it received help from the State.

Let me paraphrase the comments made by Rod Caldwell, who was at that time the FTCSC Business Manager.  The comments were made at the school board meeting in September of 2004.  He indicated “it had been a struggle to keep up with additional costs due to growth as the state placed limits on the amount of money that could be raised.”

Then, another experienced school board member commented “if the legislature did not make a change in the funding formula, particularly in the area of transportation, the corporation would have no choice but to continue to appeal.”  The board member explained “the FTCSC School Board had spent a great deal of time talking to legislators about the need for changes in the funding formula and to date there had not been a favorable response.” 

Those legislators at the time included current State Senator Pat Miller.  Some things never change, do they?

Another board member immediately followed with the comment that “the state of Indiana was punishing Franklin Township schools for being a growing school corporation.”

Rod Caldwell explained “a change had been made just prior to 2004 and the State of Indiana had chosen to no longer contribute anything in the education funding formula for transportation as that funding burden was being shifted to property tax payers.” 

However, the state retained control of the cap and the amount of the increase schools could receive for transportation when asking their tax payers for help. That year the amount was 4.3%.

But that's not all.  Mr. Caldwell went on to explain that “FT had over 500 new students that year and the school corporation needed 10 new buses.  Thus, Franklin Township could not provide transportation on the revenue received from the tax rate approve by the state of Indiana.  It was growing too fast.”

In that same September 2004 meeting, Mr. Caldwell explained that “state funding for transportation was opposite what it should have been because school systems with flat or declining enrollments still got the 4% increase in transportation revenue.”

Let me summarize in one sentence.  The system was badly broken in 2004.  And, it hasn’t changed since that time.  FTCSC has been fighting this battle regarding transportation every single day of every single year for these last 10 years.

I’ve been involved in it.  I understand it.  Most of you don’t have the history or choose not to educate yourselves.

Today, particularly on this first day of school, the transportation system in Franklin Township is badly broken, but for a different reason than in 2004. 

I believe Franklin Township might well have been a reason for the original creation of property tax caps.  Follow me here. 

As the state of Indiana looked for ways to fund less of education over the last 10 years, what they did for a period of time was allow the school systems to raise the dollars (that the state was taking away) through additional property tax levies.  Transportation is the perfect example.  The State chose to no longer include transportation of students in the funding formula, but they would allow schools to raise tax revenue from property tax payers. 

So what happened?  Property taxes continued to escalate as these funding shifts took place, particularly in Franklin Township, where the tremendous growth in the schools demanded more resources... And the state said “we aren’t giving the funds to you, but we will change the funding mechanisms to allow you to go get it from your tax payers.”

So, then the tax caps were enacted.  I am not in any way opposed to tax caps.  They are much needed and much appreciated, but just like the system was broken 10 years ago, these sweeping changes made by the state did not take into account the negative effect on a school system such as FTCSC. 

So here you are on this day furious at the most negatively affected public entity (school or otherwise) in the state of Indiana… when they’ve been fighting this transportation funding battle every single year for AT LEAST the last 10 years.    

Most of you sit in traffic and only look at the events of the last 4 months with no understanding of the past.  You see the end of a valued social service, a privilege we had come to expect.  It is terrible for ALL of us as parents of Franklin Township students, but transporting "our" kids isn't the law.

There’s a 1.2 billion dollar surplus at the state level right now.  Part of that came from the almost 6 million dollars in funding they took from Franklin Township in the last 2 years due to cuts in the funding of public education at the state level.  Direct your anger in the right place people.  Go talk to Pat Miller and Mike Speedy.  Ask them to fix the problems they have participated in creating.  In Pat’s case, she has been part of the problem for years and years.

Have a great day!

Dr. Bourke Radio Interview Message 7.29.11

Hello everyone. 

Most of you are likely not aware of Abdul Hakim Shabazz, it’s not entirely surprising.  He is an attorney who has a little, local political talk show during the morning drive time hours.  I hate to give this gentleman any mention, but FTCSC Superintendent Dr. Bourke called in to his radio show yesterday morning to address accusations that there was an inappropriate relationship involved in the bus transportation process currently taking place with CIESC, the outsourced bus provider.

Aside from the sarcastic remarks of the radio host, I ask you to please listen to the responses of Dr. Bourke.  Do not listen to the tone (because he is furious at the accusations against him), but please listen to the comments and explanation.  Listen to the message.  Listen to his answers to the questions posed to him. 

Having served on that FTCSC School Board for 4 years, I will tell you CIESC is the perfect outsourcing solution to keep costs down for parents… I know it may be hard to believe that the costs are being kept down, but they really are.  First, by leasing our buses to CIESC for $1, this keeps parent costs as low as they can possibly be kept.  Second, there is a clause in the agreement that says the buses can only be used for Franklin Township students.  Third, it allows Franklin Township to buy them back for $1 if circumstances would change.

Just like I told you months before the referendum that you’d be screaming about bus fees AFTER you chose to vote NO, I am now telling you FTCSC is only the first school system to do this.  There are 8 other CIESC type organizations across the state, which are actual “not for profit” state agencies… and any school system that participates automatically has its Superintendent inserted onto the Governing body.  They say Dr. Bourke is the chairman.  That isn’t even true.  He has not been the chairman for over a year.  

In this particular state agency here in Central Indiana, I can almost promise you at this moment that Decatur Township will be next in line.  My understanding based on an email I received the other day from an employee of that township is they have done almost everything necessary to make this outsourcing happen for them beginning in the 2012-2013 school year… with guess who?… yes, CIESC.

When you are listening to this exchange in the attached link, please make a special effort to listen to Dr. Bourke’s description of the educational rankings of Franklin Township Schools.  They are in the 80^th percentile in the state for ISTEP testing and rank as the #1 or #2 school system in Marion County for every single ISTEP category.  That is incredible! 

Oh… and that is why you will drive your kids to school or pay to have them ride the buses… because you moved to Franklin Township for the outstanding teachers and administrators that work with your kids on a daily basis.  It surely isn’t for the infrastructure provided by the city (which you will soon see when you drive yours kids to school) or the educational support lacking from the state level.

Finally, one more note about this talk show host.  He is irresponsibly trying to organize a boycott of school on September 16^th.  He has chosen this date because it is the ADM count day.  He thinks this is the only day when the state funding is determined based on the number of kids attending school.  His theory… if everyone stays home, the schools will get millions of dollars less and that will show those school leaders in Franklin Township. 

First of all, if he were right, which he is not, that would do wonders for the education of our kids now… wouldn’t it?  Cut a few more million dollars out of the budget for one of the best school systems in the state…and one of the least funded!

I’d love for some reporter to call this idiot to the carpet and ask how he can be so irresponsible in his actions on behalf of the kids in the Franklin Township Community.  Clearly, that isn’t going to happen.

Fortunately, he is not right.  You would think an attorney would have his facts straight before he embarrasses himself on his own radio show by encouraging parents to keep their kids out of school.  The truth is… if you really want to hurt Franklin Township Schools (and indirectly the children that attend since that seems to be his objective), you need to keep your kids home every day and not let them attend school until after September 16^th.  At that point, you’ll probably have child neglect charges filed against you… so have at it!  Otherwise, just know if your kids are attending school any time up until that point, they get counted.

Here is the link to the radio interview:

http://www.newstalk1430.com/

Have a great weekend!

Transportation & Town Hall Message 7.25.11

Hello everyone. 

On Tuesday evening, July 26^th, State Senator Pat Miller and State Representative Mike Speedy will be participating in a Franklin Township Town Hall meeting to answer questions and discuss their positions regarding the recently enacted transportation fee through Central Indiana Education Service Center.

 

Last week, Senator Miller was kind enough to elaborate on her position regarding the transportation fees.  She clearly expressed her position to oppose such fees and indicated she considers them to be a tax during tough economic times.  I’m sure she will expand upon her feelings and you can attend this event to listen to her share the thought that charging bus fees is an unconstitutional activity.

Since I will be unable to attend, I’d like to share information with you I am certain will not be part of the dog and pony show the elected representatives will share.

I told all of you in messages beginning on March 7th of this year exactly what would happen.  Transportation would go away… people will scream.  Having served 4 years on this school board in Franklin Township, I have personally watched the state fulfill its funding obligation less and less annually since my involvement began in 2004.  Senator Miller has been Franklin Township’s representative in the State Senate prior to that and ever since.  I have found her in my personal interactions to be polite, but somewhat dismissive.  In saying that, I mean that she would always seem politely engaged in the annual conversations with the Franklin Township School Board, only to go off and do nothing that was truly supportive of this school system’s needs.

In the days following the recent referendum vote in May, I wrote to each of you that the township residents had spoken and the direction was quite clear.  By an overwhelming defeat of this second referendum request, residents were telling the school board and the school administration to get their financial affairs in order.  The residents clearly said, “We are not willing to pay any additional tax dollars to keep the schools open or keep bus transportation in place.”  The message to Dr. Bourke and the board… balance your budget and work with what you are already being given.

Dr. Bourke and the school board heard this message loud and clear.  Eighteen months ago, the school board voted to keep schools open an extra year with hopes this most recent referendum would succeed.  This year, upon the referendum failure, they closed the schools… and as they stated they would do for months leading up to the referendum vote, they maintained their commitment to eliminate transportation because of the lack of funding available to support it.

In case you are not aware, schools are not required to offer transportation with the exception of the requirement to transport special needs students.  For example, Speedway schools do not offer transportation.

For those interested in reality and not the political games we see all around us these days, let me share some specific events in the days following the referendum you are not aware of.  When I sent my last message out to each of you, it had an interested reader who wanted to get together and meet… State Representative Mike Speedy.   I believe his interest was in response to my telling you it was time to turn attention to the place where the problem has resided all along… with the leaders at the State House.  I told him I would be happy to meet, as long as the meeting included Superintendent Walter Bourke and School CFO Chad Blacklock.  I also told him I was only interested in talking about the reality of the situation and not some of the nonsense numbers he had shared with me to tell me how great of a job he and Senator Miller were doing for Franklin Township.

That meeting took place at 8am on the morning of May 19th at the Starbucks on Southport Road.  He invited another guest… Senator Pat Miller.  The conversation was direct, but actually quite cordial.  The situation from the view of the school system was explained to them.  They were given an outline reflecting the massive deficit funding projections for 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 in the debt service fund, the capital projects fund, the transportation fund, the bus replacement fund and the pension bond fund.

They were told that the 37% loss of property tax dollars when the 1% property tax cap was enacted was devastating to Franklin Township Schools in particular, likely more so that any school system in the state.  They were told that Franklin Township would be the only school system in the entire state of Indiana to have to pull dollars from the General Fund  to pay debt service based on the loss of property tax dollars (or in more simple terms, dollars that are supposed to go into the classroom will be used to pay debt).

Here are the specific responses from the elected officials in that meeting:

State Representative Speedy wanted to know how we can heal the community after the referendum split.

State Senator Miller stopped short of interrupting him, but immediately followed with… and I quote, “What I am concerned about is how we can get buses running to pick up kids for the first day of school.” 

Dr. Bourke said that was his main focus as well.  He shared his efforts to “outsource” bus transportation to a third party servicer.  Yes, the conversation focused on the specific group that will be handling the transportation this year… CIESC  (the Central Indiana Educational Services Cooperative).   A number of schools in Central Indiana work with CIESC to share resources and it’s a valuable partner to school systems.

Dr. Bourke then shared that there was a past opinion from the Attorney General that indicated they might find such outsourcing to be unconstitutional, yet there was another state statute in place being used as the basis for the effort.  Senator Miller said she would place a call to the Attorney General that very day because the buses needed to run.  She then said she would begin placing calls to key legislators to see if anything could be done.  She noted it would be difficult in that they were out of session, but she would begin looking for opportunities to help Franklin Township in the next legislative session. 

At one point in the conversation, I made a comment to her about the appreciation we had that the funding formula was changed in this last legislative session to give Franklin Township some much needed help in the coming years (since they finally made the change to have the money follow the child), but she needed to understand the state was still underfunding FTCSC such that there was no hope of saving transportation because there were no dollars to support it.  I then went on to share with her that Franklin Township is only the first to take on the bus transportation issue because within days of our failed referendum (and prior to this Starbucks meeting), Decatur Township released to the press an announcement about a major cut back in the number of stops buses would make in transporting students.  Again, my message to her… Franklin Township is only the first… just like the “pay for play” policies other schools engage in now after Franklin Township had to be the first to implement the practice.

Her direct reply to me was that Franklin Township was different than any other district and in a far worse situation.  She used a percentage that is related to property tax credits and where other challenged districts throughout the state had percentages in and around 40%, she told me Franklin Township was at 174%.  She said people at the statehouse were very aware of the affect on Franklin Township and no other school system’s situation was near as bad.

So, that meeting wraps up with a commitment by Senator Miller and Representative Speedy to go and see what they could do to help.  They were going to talk to Luke Kenley, the legislative leader when it comes to education.  They were going to talk to other state officials.  They were going to set up a meeting and get something done to help.  Nobody knew what that might be yet, but the intent to help was clear.

Fast forward a few weeks… a meeting takes place with school officials and several state leaders, some legislators and some from the Department of Education, as well as various other state agencies.  Skipping all of the details, the end result of that meeting was Franklin Township was told there would be no more help and no more money.  They were told to spend their savings and they were asked why they hadn’t claimed to be a school system in financial duress so they could cut all of their teacher salaries by 5% across the board to free up dollars to provide transportation.

Here is my response… what in the world are these people thinking?  Now, I may be in the minority and so be it, but why in God’s name are government leaders and legislators telling Franklin Township to spend its savings and forget about balancing its budget?  Did they really say that after the community voted and demanded the schools balance their budget?

I know the school system has $17 million dollars in savings.  I also know there will never be another dime added to that.  No debt can be refinanced.  No money is there to move to savings.  There will be deficits every year into the foreseeable future and the state directly told Franklin Township you will get no additional money to help with your transportation problem.  I know there is NO money in the budget for building repairs such as roof leaks or problem with a boiler in a building.  The school board is aware of this and directed Dr. Bourke to keep contingency dollars set aside… these rainy day funds are the only contingency dollars this school system will ever have.

It’s amazing to me that the state recently revealed a billion dollar surplus and announced bonuses will be given to state employees… and they are praised for being responsible and great managers of state funds.  Franklin Township School leadership announces that it has balanced its budget, kept more teachers than originally planned and is making the tough decisions to remain financially viable for years to come, yet they are attacked for it.

I heard a statistic last week that the top 1% income earners in the United States pay an amount equal to 96% of the population in our country.  In this recent national debt ceiling / budget debate, it has been suggested that these top income earners pay even more.  So the question there is how much should they pay… more than 97% of the country… or 98% of the country… or 99% of the country combined?

Here, the situation is this… Franklin Township loses over 3 million dollars every year it offers bus transportation.  So, to those of you who say they have to provide transportation...  Should they do it just for 1 year… or 2 years… or 3 years?  How much money do they need to lose and how much of their savings do they need to spend for it to be enough for you?

I suspect most of you don’t care about the financial security of the school system.  I suspect most of you think they should cut another 5% of teacher pay… never mind the incredible results our teachers have been able to attain to make this a leading public school system in Central Indiana… and never mind the effect another 5% would have had on Franklin Township’s ability to attract the best educators.  Dr. Bourke and the Franklin Township School Board are only doing what they think is best to be responsible financial stewards - just as you asked them to do.

So, I will end with asking you… if you experience tough times at home in your personal budget, do you intentionally set up your expenses to exceed your known revenues and then intentionally plan to set up a budget that makes you live daily off of your only savings?  That is exactly what your state leaders want Franklin Township Schools to do.

On Tuesday night, why doesn’t somebody have the guts to ask them what they plan to do to help with the problem at the state level?  Why doesn’t the Franklin Township community ask them why it is okay for them to cut FTCSC funding by 2.5 million dollars for consecutive years when times are tough at the state level, but they want our school system to spend our only savings to provide transportation they refuse to adequately fund?  Why is it congratulatory for the state to keep a billion dollars sitting, but Franklin Township should have to spend its savings instead of making tough decisions and cuts?

You need to push back on your legislators and do it now.  At this time, Senator Miller has jumped the fence and will attack the schools to save her political future, especially since her district has been redrawn and most of her constituency resides in Franklin Township.  When will someone make her feel some of the pressure community members feel today.

She will tell you how this bus fee is a tax.  It is not.  Your taxes are capped to only 1% and that is what put Franklin Township in this mess.  Your taxes will not change.  This is a user fee.  If you don’t use the service, you don’t pay the fee.

It is a terrible situation for all involved, including myself as a parent of two daughters in Franklin Township schools.  It is hard on the parents.  It is hard on the schools who have to find a way to get all of these car riders in the building, while searching for partners to help create and maintain a viable bus transportation program. 

Here’s an idea… instead of telling your state senator how bad this school system is, why don’t you ask Senator Miller and Representative Speedy what they plan to do at the state level to help Franklin Township Schools.  Make them accountable.  Tell them if they spent less time on the school voucher program and more time focused on helping to support the public schools they are elected to represent, these issues might get addressed.  And, be sure to let them know that you are aware that not only is Franklin Township the most devastated public school system in the state as a result of the decisions at the state level, but it may well be the most devastated public entity of any kind in this state. 

You won’t be telling Senator Miller anything she doesn’t already know.  She shared it with me at the Southport Road Starbucks on May 19th.

And, by the way, these state leaders know if the relationship with CIESC works out, every school system around will try to outsource bus transportation.  There is no question.  Schools are in the business of educating kids and the costs of transportation are crippling.  Clearly the state funding isn’t in place.  Decatur Township was the first besides Franklin Township to take some steps to cut back transportation, but they won’t be the last.

Thanks for your consideration! 

Turning Our Attention To The State of Indiana

Hello everyone. 

 

The Franklin Township community has spoken.  No referendum passed.  No tax levies will be implemented.

 

So, let’s begin with the positive things to keep in mind.  The sun came up the next morning (although it was hidden by clouds yet again and we didn’t see it… kind of fitting I think).  Kids got on buses and went to school.  Teachers were at the school to receive the kids.  Life goes on as normal for another few weeks.  Oh, and everyone will have more money in their pockets because taxes will be reduced more than they would have been had this referendum been passed. 

 

So, what else are we left with, aside from a splintered community in the aftermath of Election Day?

 

First, we should be thankful for all of the parents and community members who fought to support the education of kids in Franklin Township.  Regardless of the final vote outcome, which was 8,593 against (63.71%) to 4,895 for (36.29%), a lot of eyes were opened to the reasons for the funding challenges of Franklin Township schools.  Clearly, not enough eyes were opened… but many who did not know now do understand.  And, some never will choose to understand.

 

This vote wasn’t close enough to warrant another referendum in the future.  Two attempts, two failures.  Clearly the majority of the voters in Franklin Township do not want to invest more tax money in supporting the needs of the school system.  That has been heard loud and clear.  But, from the first message I sent several weeks ago, I have been clear that this is not a problem that was caused by the Superintendent, the School Board, the Teachers, or the Taxpayers of Franklin Township.  The deficits we face can be directly attributed to the State of Indiana and the Legislature that represents Franklin Township taxpayers.  Property tax caps cut Franklin Township educational funding literally in half and there was no measure to protect the education of kids in the decisions made at the legislative level.

 

In my opinion, the referendum was an effort by Franklin Township schools to “plug a hole in the dam” and ask for the support of the community to MAINTAIN the current level of programs and services for the students through a tax levy… simply because the State of Indiana has been unwilling and unable to fulfill its commitment of funding public education for the students of Franklin Township.  The focus of the frustration doesn’t need to turn to the people who voted NO (although I will share my personal opinion that those who chose to vote NO can stay out of any and all discussions about how the schools now deal with the cuts and closing decisions they must now make). 

 

More appropriately, the frustration needs to be directed at State Senators and State Representatives and the Governor who have created the policies and funding mechanisms by which Franklin Township reached this situation of deficit funding.

 

I am not an opponent of property tax caps in theory.  I am not an opponent of referenda to allow the community to have input when school systems choose to invest for needs “in excess” of the everyday responsibilities the State of Indiana has responsibility for constitutionally to educate the citizens of this state.  However, when the dollars do not fairly follow the student in every district across the state and when every school system is not treated equally, there is a serious problem… thus the lawsuit that FTCSC is part of today against the State of Indiana.  It should say something that the State tried to get the lawsuit thrown out and they were denied. 

 

When the Franklin Township Community School System has funding per student ranked #291 out of #349 in the state after enduring literally years of receiving ONLY 75% of the allocated funding for every new student it received annually, there cannot help but to be a deficit.

 

Every year, for years, the state has done less and less for Franklin Township Schools.  Our schools are not alone, but our schools were terribly affected due to the growth.  It began with little things such as how the schools paid for utilities… the state would cut funding, then turn and say,” but now you can pay for this particular expense out of another fund whereas before you could not"... as if they were doing the schools a favor for becoming more flexible as they reduced funding.  It continued to manifest itself with late payments to the schools which actually required Franklin Township Schools to go and get “a loan” annually to float themselves until the payments came in.  Oh yes, you as taxpayers got to pay the interest on those loans through taxpayer dollars... all as a result of a broken system.

 

I understand taxpayers have made their voices heard, but now ALL voices need to be directed in unison toward the root of the problem.  Phil Ross, a former school board member, advocated voting NO to the referendum and then letting chaos ensue so the issues would be directed where they should be.  Well, this is now going to happen.

 

For those who voted NO, you won… you should be proud and enjoy your resounding victory.  No need to gloat or act like fools… you didn’t win anything to be proud of, but you were heard.  Please do NOT be hateful or negative toward anyone who voted YES to protect the education of the children in the Franklin Township community.  And, would everyone please take both the YES and NO signs out of your yards.  When your election signs are in your yard for days and weeks after the election, it doesn’t reflect well on you!

 

As I told Dr. Bourke the morning after the election, I do not think a majority of the NO votes were from people who hate Franklin Township schools.  I don’t think the NO voters hate kids and want them to fail in life, either.  I think they just hate the idea of any tax burden that is not necessary in their minds.  This is the reason why a majority of these referenda fail.  This is why Avon and Zionsville also have said no in their public votes.

 

There has been a tremendous amount of organization and effort from the folks engaged in FAST.  Regardless of what is being said, I know there has been a constant effort to do things the right way in this referendum process.  Now, the message needs to be sent to a different audience… to those who have been elected to represent Franklin Township.  And, it needs to be sent by ALL of Franklin Township.  The public display of “non-affection” may have to wait until the Fall when the legislature convenes again, but people need to stay after this.  I can promise you motivation will not be a problem when parents are driving their children to and from school twice a day and gridlock ensues.

 

Can the group of caring parents and community members regroup and stay together in the coming months to send the message to our legislators?  Can we get their attention? 

 

When our representatives vote to support tax credits for home schooling and vote to support the school voucher bills in the legislature, in my mind they are intentionally ignoring their responsibility as a public elected official whose job it is to oversee the success of public school education.  Private school education is a choice families make.  Public school education is an obligation of the state.  Pat Miller and Mike Speedy need to be accountable.  They have not come to the defense of Franklin Township students or their adult Franklin Township constituents as this situation has played out.

 

Stay tuned… this is not over.  Maybe now, knowing there won’t be a tax impact of any kind, NO voters can step back and acknowledge that the way our schools are being funded is not fair and it is not right.  Maybe Franklin Township can work together as an entire community to force the state to consider a more equitable process that doesn’t damage the opportunities of our kids.

 

Remember, it is the kids who are being hurt.  This fight to help our kids cannot stop.  We are their voice.     

 

Thanks for your consideration! 

Final Referendum Message

Hello everyone. 

The time has finally come to cast your vote.  With the historic news of the last 48 hours, this vote isn’t a life or death issue to be certain, but it is a very important vote in terms of the opportunities the 9,000 children of Franklin Township will receive as this community moves forward.

I can’t tell you how important voter turn-out will be tomorrow.  It will literally dictate this election.  So if the rains continue and you think, “I’m just not gonna make it there, but my vote won’t mean anything anyway, so it’s no big deal.”…. think again.  If you think this election cannot come down to your vote… you are wrong.  YOU HAVE TO GET THERE TO VOTE YES.  The contest is who gets more people to come!  The worse the weather, the more committed the winning side has to be.  Don’t be the reason this does not pass.

Every single vote will matter.  Every parent who cares about their child’s education better show up and make their voice heard.  If you don’t want your child’s school to close… then VOTE YES.  If you don’t want to take your kids to school every day… then VOTE YES.  If you don’t want to lose 81 teachers, as well as Art, Music, PE and Library… then VOTE YES.

I recognize not everyone will vote in favor of this referendum.  That’s democracy at work.  My concern is that well intentioned people who are on the fence have not been honestly informed regarding the circumstances and impact of this referendum.  So, let me condense 6 emails and 45-50 pages of explanation into 5 points for everyone to consider as they walk into the ballot booth:

• Franklin Township has been a high growth school district for many years.  It grew by 46% between 2000-2007 (or by 2,598 students).  With that rapid growth came the need for new schools to house the kids… and in 2007 FT was still the 4^th fastest growing school district in the state.
• Franklin Township receives less funding per student than any area school district and is ranked 291 out of 349 school systems in the state in terms of funding per student.  That isn’t a Superintendent or a School Board problem.  That is a STATE OF INDIANA problem that has negatively impacted this township for years and years.  How bad is it?  FTCSC and two other school districts are suing the state.  If our name was IPS, we’d have 26 million more per year and no need for a referendum.  It is not.  The state tried to get the case thrown out and the judge refused.   In addition, the property tax caps recently enacted cut the funding literally IN HALF that Franklin Township receives, thus there is a funding gap created that is an additional burden on top of the low funding per student numbers described above.
• Franklin Township schools have NOT received more funding in 2011 from the state than it did in 2010.  They received more appropriations… but appropriations are not funds.  It is a lie to say otherwise.  The “appropriations” from the state increased by $5.3 million for FTCSC, but appropriations are just a number the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) says the schools are approved to spend up to and no more than… funny thing - there is no cash to fund the appropriations approved by the state, thus the need for this referendum.  This is so important to understand.  In essence, the DLGF is giving an appropriations number and saying, this is what you need to offer services Franklin Township schools... but you have to go and find the cash to offer these services.  Funding was actually CUT by $2.5 million in each of the last 2 years.
• YOUR PROPERTY TAXES WILL NOT GO UP AS A RESULT OF VOTING YES FOR THIS REFERENDUM.  This is the year that the 1% tax cap actually kicks in… so you haven’t seen the reduction yet.  Opponents want you to think your taxes will skyrocket.  They will not.  They will still be the 9^th lowest property taxes you have paid in Franklin Township in the last 10 years.  The property taxes after a YES VOTE will be less than in 2010.
• If Franklin Township finds new funding… like the $1.7 million in concessions the teachers union recently made or the Governor’s plan to give more money to schools (announced last week)… these events will reduce the amount of tax levy required.  The school just can’t say, “So what, we will take the money anyway” because the DLGF has to approve the school budget EVERY YEAR and the State (DLGF) will not allow FTCSC to charge you more than is necessary.  The DLGF approves the school budget.  They decide how much of the referendum money is necessary.  It is quite likely all of the request will not be needed.  Keep in mind school officials have to plan now in this referendum request for what they MIGHT NEED in year 7 (or 2017), which is pretty difficult.  That is the reason for this specific request.  The STATE is your watchdog.  The DLGF will approve the budget annually. 

Understand this referendum isn’t about creating foreclosures… it isn’t logical that foreclosures are created if your taxes actually drop from the previous year.  This is about being a community that either chooses to support or refuses to support education.  Did you ride a bus to school as a kid?  Did you have the opportunity to take art, music and PE as a kid?  Did you get to go to the library at school as a kid?

9,000 kids will be affected…  You are their voice… What example will you set for them?

Thanks for your consideration! 

30 Issues To Understand Regarding The Referendum

This isn’t the time to be nice.

This is the time to be honest in sharing accurate information, but it isn’t the time to be nice.

When you drive down the road and see some neighbors with YES signs and others next door or across the street with NO signs, you know this referendum is a polarizing issue.

 Both sides feel strongly… I get that.  Franklin Township schools provided me with my education and now I’m entrusting the school system to educate my children and present them with the same (or even more) opportunities than I have had as a result of my outstanding education.  I want the best for the schools because I want the best for my kids.   How can anyone argue with that?

But, when I approach this referendum issue, I don’t approach it only as a Dad with 2 girls in the schools.  I approach it with 4 years of school board experience from 2004-2008.  I served at a critical time in the recent history of the school system.  In my tenure, the prior board had just built the stadium for 4.3 million dollars while we had portable classrooms next door at the middle school and Kitley Intermediate almost as quickly as we built it because there weren’t enough classrooms.  We had portables at elementary schools and classes had assigned bathroom times because we were in the midst of the 46% growth Franklin Township experienced between 2000 and 2007.  I served at a time when Dr. Carver was retiring and we hired a new Superintendent in Dr. Bourke half way through my 4 year term.  I served at a time where we went away from the status quo of using the same school architects for project after project and started looking for cost and efficiency… a time when we sought out cookie cutter schools that had already been designed… buildings that would be nice for our kids… but we were looking for cost effective ways to get things done and saving a million dollars in design work was saving a million dollars.

There are always times when someone runs for a School Board position with an agenda, but I’ve said you know a good school board member when you don’t know what their hot button issue is.  I didn’t have an agenda except to make these schools the best they could be for my kids and my nieces and nephews and the families in the Franklin Township community.  If you brought me an issue, I’d tell you what I thought was in the best interests of the students, while keeping in mind the interests of the taxpayers.  That was how I made decisions.  Cost versus value was always a consideration… as it is in any reasonable household.  The students were the product and just like my remodeling company won’t take a shortcut on a project in someone’s home, I wasn’t about to take a shortcut on the education of kids in the Franklin Township Community.

So, I’ll be honest… hearing people trash the Superintendent or the NEEDS of the schools to maintain the current level of services goes right through me.  I hired Dr. Bourke and while I was fond of him initially, today I think he is one of the finest men I have ever met.  You may not agree and that is fine, but don’t talk about this school system trying to hide information or screw you out of tax dollars.  He lives in the community.  He cares about these kids more than you will ever know.  And he has a staff of dedicated people… from his administration and teachers to the bus drivers and building support staff.

This is a great school system.  They turn out great kids who get into great schools and achieve great things.  Franklin Township is known for its academics, its athletics, it is known nationally for its music programs… and it is fair to say in almost every area it achieves success.  And, that success has lured thousands of homeowners to live in the community… higher taxes or not.

The decision you have is whether or not you place any sort of value on those things.

This is not the time to be nice.  This is the time for you to be informed.  If you don’t choose to be informed, then quit reading and go do what you’re gonna do.  I don’t have any interest in talking to you anyway.  Find yourself a red sign, add some made up numbers to it, and place it in your yard.  However, if you are open-minded and you just really want more information to help you make a decision regarding whether or not supporting this referendum is the right thing to do for you, then grab a cup of coffee and keep reading.  I’m not going to place any spin on any topic I address below.  If I can attribute misinformation to a particular person or a group, I’m going to call them out.

So, let’s begin.

The opposition who plans to “Vote No” has started to emerge from their holes and they share a variety of misconceptions and false information with anyone who will blindly listen.  They are twisting facts either out of ignorance or good old bad intentions.

I’m going to begin with the recent comments from the “supposed” expert, Dr. Matt Will, Director of External Relations and Associate Professor of Finance, School of Business, at the University of Indianapolis. 

ISSUE 1

Dr. Will claims that the Franklin Township Schools are getting 5.3 million dollars in additional funding in 2011 above and beyond 2010.  He references the 1782 Notice that is reviewed and approved by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF).  His point… why does there need to be a referendum when the state is giving them more money.

Since Dr. Will is either a blatant liar or much less intelligent than his position might require him to be to speak about issues such as these, you are now going to get a DLGF lesson and in 3 minutes will understand the difference between “appropriations” and “actual cash”.

Form 1782 says the DLGF has APPROVED APPROPRIATIONS to the school system in a certain amount.  As Dr. Will states, those appropriations grew 5.3 million dollars between 2010 and 2011.  So, when he says that, most of you think that is cash in the bank.  IT IS NOT!

Approved appropriations typically always exceed your actual revenue you have to work with.  Approved are appropriations are “what you are allowed to spend, but not exceed”… they are NOT tied at all to what cash you actually have available to you.  So, when Dr. Will tells you Franklin Township received an increase in funding of 5.3 million dollars, that is a blatant lie and he knows it.  Because of the property tax caps, FTCSC does not have the cash it needs to sustain these operations.  Thus, the need for this freaking referendum people!

So, as an example, when that same DLGF form says FTCSC has 6.0 million in appropriations for the Capital Projects Fund to maintain all of the school buildings… that is all well and good, but the tax levy only brings in 3.0 million in revenue or “CASH” to this fund. 

Dr. Will in all of his ignorance is making the specific case for why this referendum is needed.  We don’t have the cash needed to fund the appropriations that are approved by the DLGF and the State of Indiana.  They are approving the expenditure, but not giving the money needed.

To take this a step further, FTCSC has been funding this shortfall in recent years through its Rainy Day Fund in order to offset that difference between approved appropriations and the actual cash we have.

If Dr. Will is a true economics guy, he should know better than to throw these numbers around.

ISSUE 2

Another Dr. Will classic issue at the moment…

If there is a 10.9 million dollar funding gap in 2011, then he is asking why FTCSC asking for 13.0 million through the referendum?

Imagine if you will for a moment that you are the Chief Financial Officer of Franklin Township Schools and you know you currently have a big funding problem not only this year, but in the years to come.  So, once you come to the conclusion that you need to engage in a referendum and ask for a vote of support from the community in order to fix that funding problem, you then have to figure out and ask for a referendum amount right now that will cover you for the next 7 YEARS.  Not just this year with what you know right now, but something that provides you with enough money to fund year 7 in 2017.

And here’s what you know right now…

The Assessed Value of homes has been on the decline for the last 4 years.  What if it keeps dropping?   You have to figure out what Assessed Value will look like in another 7 years?  That by itself is practically impossible.

Next, what are the effects of the potential charter school and voucher funding issues being kicked around by the legislature?

What will the state do with the funding formula?  That is currently impossible to figure out what it will look like this year, let alone 7 years down the road.  By the way, this is the formula that has been absolutely screwing Franklin Township and penalizing it for being a “growing” school district for years.

What will be the needs of our facilities in the next 7 years?  Will a boiler go out?  Will a roof leak?

What are the costs of health insurance going to do between now and year 7?  There isn’t anyone with this answer… but I bet we can all reasonably assume it will only increase from past experience.

So, once again, if we have a 10.9 million dollar funding gap in 2011… what might that funding gap look like in 2017? 

Based on all of that analysis… and quite frankly the calculated, logical “guessing” of our needs 7 years from now… the school system said the need could be 13.0 million in 2017.

Will it be?  Not necessarily, but I don’t know and you don’t know exactly what the need will be.  Neither does Mitch Daniels, the DLGF, and certainly not Dr. Matt Will.  Just know that the 13.0 million is nothing more than a group of intelligent people making a guess to 7 years down the road knowing they have a SCHOOL BOARD telling them they want that number to be as SMALL as possible.  In the end, 13.0 million was the smallest they were comfortable making the number for year 7.

So, the next question in line is… What happens if the schools don’t need the money that is projected today?

Issue 3

The Franklin Township Community School Corporation won’t levy the community and ask for funds unless they are associated with maintaining the current programs and services.

Now, here’s where you start in with the “I don’t trust the schools” garbage. 

I guess if you have that trust issue, you just have bigger problems than my information will help you with today for a vote on May 3^rd.

Here is what I will tell you… and this won’t make me any friends I am sure.

I think the School Board made a major mistake after the first failed referendum by caving to the pressure of the community members begging to find a way to keep Wanamaker and Acton Elementary schools open.  I don’t say this because I wanted them to close.  Heck, I attended Wanamaker and my kids attended Acton… so I love both schools... but you as a community won’t take them seriously that these devastating cuts will be made.  Guess what?  These cuts will be made.  No question.  So, I emailed the Board Members at that time and told them they were “chicken bleep” because they backed off a decision that not only was the financially responsible decision, but it also would be a visible example for you in the community to understand how dire the financial situation is with the property tax caps in place.  I was not happy and think they made this a much more difficult referendum.  I know that if the parents of FTCSC kids do not turn out in absolute mass to support this, it will be an uphill battle.  There are too many selfish people in the world, and even in Franklin Township, who will not support this regardless of who it hurts.

Now, having said all of that… I understand why the School Board “wanted to do” this.  The referendum had already failed.  They knew there would have to be another referendum request.  They just wanted to try to maintain services for kids with the hope of success on the second request.

Issue 4

Okay Geoff, you say they don’t have to assess the entire .75 per $100 in assessed value that is being requested.  What will they do instead of assessing the entire .75 per $100?

My Answer – Look at the events of the last 2 weeks alone.  In just 2 weeks, the Governor has announced $150 million in education funding that would be restored (although a lot of that is already earmarked for specific programs), the teachers made concessions to the tune of $1.7 million in savings to the school system, and there is an outside chance that the funding formula currently being debated in the legislature will restore the $2.5 million Mitch Daniels took away from Franklin Township schools in each of the last 2 years because of a lack of money at the state level.

If all of those things were to happen, each of them would reduce the amount of the requested levy for taxpayers should this referendum pass on May 3^rd.  So, who knows what the first year levy request might be?  I know Dr. Bourke has publicly stated that it would be .75 as it is being advertised, but that was before some of these events.  It could absolutely be less than that in year one.  I know you will have a Superintendent, a School Board and a school CFO who would love to be able to tell the community the total amount of the approved levy isn’t needed.

Issue 5

Well, who is going to keep the schools from just taking all of the taxpayer money?

ANSWER – The Indiana DLGF employs people whose job is to wake up each morning and assess school budgets.  They are the FINAL say in a Government Entities Budget.  If Franklin Township schools can’t prove to them why they need all .75 of that tax levy to make their budget work, the DLGF won’t approve it.  The DLGF’s sole purpose is to protect the taxpayer.

They got a lot of teeth several years ago when Mitch Daniels wanted to put a limit on the dollars spent for school construction.  We got our projects approved because we were responsible in our investments in buildings… but many schools were turned away.  This was the initiation of the expanded role of the DLGF under Governor Daniels.

Dr. Matt Will is very fond of referencing DLGF documents, so I am sure he can tell the “Vote No” supporters that the DLGF is very powerful and very demanding in their school budget oversight … but I am guessing he doesn’t want you to know since he is a Franklin Township resident whose primary focus at this time is to fight the referendum by going on radio shows and talking about how teachers are telling parents to Vote YES.

Issue 6

Opponents say “YOUR TAXES WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF!  FORECLOSURES WILL GROW!”

FACT - Your property taxes after a YES VOTE for the referendum on May 3^rd will NOT be higher than any tax bill you have paid to date, including this most recently completed year of 2010.  In reality, the taxes you pay after a YES VOTE will still be lower than this past year.  You paid 1.5% in property taxes this last year.  Even after a YES VOTE, your taxes will fall below a 1.5% tax rate.  Here’s the math.  The result of 1.5% of a $150k home is $2,250 in property taxes due.  Take the 1% tax cap of $1,500 on the same home and add $489 for the .75 assessment.  This gets you a total property tax cost of $1,989. 

You have yet to pay the property taxes at the fully reduced 1% cap because those tax reductions are not taking place until this year’s May tax bill that will come due.

People refer to a 33% increase in property taxes for a YES VOTE.  That is correctly stated.  However, it is NOT 33% more than what you have been paying.  That is a distortion of the facts.  It is 33% more than what you “will pay” this year in May and November. 

So, it is a FACT to say that next year’s property tax bill after a YES VOTE will still be less than last year’s property tax bills.

I read the following reference to an editorial in the Franklin Township Informer:

As Phil Ross (teacher, and former Franklin Twp. School Board member for 20 years) states in the Franklin Township Informer on 4/13/2011, “ It is wrong because it will significantly increase your mortgage payment, and as a result, undoubtedly increase the rate of home foreclosures in the township.  When compared to homes outside of the township, Franklin Twp. homes will carry such a large tax burden that they will be very difficult to sell.”  “A yes vote is wrong because this tax will last for 7 years.  It will then have to be repeated for another 7 years, since there is no incentive for the administration to make further cuts.”

My response is this:  Don’t tell me about foreclosures being created by supporting this referendum.  The referendum is NOT increasing the CURRENT tax burden FT residents have been accustomed to paying in recent years, so the referendum won’t be creating foreclosures for any of those people.  The referendum will simply take the reduced rates residents will see this coming May / November and make them higher than they would have been, but they will still be less than the property taxes of this last year.  If people are in their homes today… and they have managed to make their current mortgage payments and fulfill their property tax obligations to date… then they should continue to be able to do so after this referendum passes.  To look at it any other way is twisting facts. 

Issue 7

The red “Vote No” signs around the township that have numbers hand written on them that are erroneous.  The printer of the signs on Franklin Road was giving out an incorrect property tax calculation, so the numbers were astronomical and incorrect.  How were they wrong?  His numbers were based on GROSS ASSESSED VALUE instead of NET ASSESSED VALUE.  The property tax going to the schools is based on NET ASSESSED VALUE, which is 70% less than the numbers people are writing on their red signs.  Were they intentionally deceiving?  I don’t personally think so in this particular case… just an ill informed opponent… and the tax chart they are distributing has since been corrected, but the original signs have not been replaced or removed from many yards I drive by.

Those of you who called the County Assessor’s Office and asked them to verify if your property tax was based on GROSS AV or NET AV… you better call them back and ask again.  They were giving out the wrong information until recently.  If you don’t believe me… call again for yourself and they will tell you the calculation is based on NET ASSESSED VALUE.  Next time, call the Treasurer’s Office.  The Assessor’s Office just assesses the value of land.  The Treasurer’s Office figures the tax bills you get!

Issue 8

Well, people just won’t be able to sell their homes if the referendum is approved because of the inflated tax burden, right?  That’s what Phil Ross says… and he was on the school board for 20 years… many years ago.

FACT - Property taxes in 2007 were much higher than today and much higher than what they would be after a YES VOTE for this referendum, yet Franklin Township was still the 4^th fastest growing school district in the state of Indiana.  You can’t convince me that the property tax cost after a YES VOTE for the referendum will result in deterring people from living in Franklin Township if the community chooses to support the schools.  There was 46% growth between 2000 and 2007… and people just kept moving into the township with the purportedly high taxes FT has always had.  The school system added 2,598 students in that time period.  People live in Franklin Township for the quality of the community and the quality of the community is based on the quality of the schools.  After all, Franklin Township has no city hall, no local government… it simply has the schools that serve as the hub of the community.

Issue 9

What the township certainly does NOT have is an abundance of commercial industry to help relieve the burden of the residential tax base. 

Did you know a heavy equipment contractor wants to install a heavy equipment repair shop at the corner of Hickory and Southeastern that would add as many as 100 jobs in our community… and both our Civic League and the neighbors are opposing it?  Can someone help me understand why?  People scream about property taxes.  They scream about the lack of commercial presence.  They even blame the schools for creating such a burden.  For years and years, they fought commercial entry into Franklin Township, which put this school system squarely in the mess it finds itself in today.  There is no commercial tax base to alleviate or lessen the burden for the residential property tax payers of Franklin Township.  And, still today, all these years later, in the midst of a huge property tax struggle to fund the schools… people are still fighting commercial entry into the township.  Please tell me why?  Please. 

I guess the only way to possibly look at this would be to assume the residents of Franklin Township have made a conscious decision for all these years to pay a premium for the ability to live in an area absent of all of the negative impacts of commercial industry.  But, now that premium is being questioned by members of the community.  Now, people are discussing their willingness to foot that bill and take on that burden for our kids… while at the same time opposing a significant commercial opportunity yet again that could help the Franklin Township tax base.  I guess I just don’t understand.  I am willing to listen if someone will explain it.

Issue 10

The “Vote No” supporters are communicating that a median home value of $150,000 will pay $3,423 in taxes.

What they don’t tell you is that is the cost over 7 years… they conveniently leave that out to mislead you.

So, the FACT is a YES VOTE for the referendum will result in an increase of $489 a year… or $40.75 per month.

Now, to revisit a point made in a prior email… a parent who drives his or her child to and from school every day will reasonably use 1 to 2 gallons of gas for the transportation of that child.  Lord help those of you with multiple kids at various schools in the township… you’ll be in the car 6 hours a day.  J

If we can reasonably assume a fuel cost of $5.00 a day for round numbers, which will definitely be low for many and high for others (particularly in this climate where fuel costs today are $4.19 per gallon), then over 180 days of school there is a potential fuel cost to the parent of $900 for the school year.  Last I checked, and I was educated by the finest math teachers Franklin Township has to offer… $900 is higher than $489. 

Next, consider the parents who can’t afford to wait in 20 to 30 minute car rider lines every morning and afternoon.  They might decide they need to pay the YMCA for before and after school day care.  How much will that cost?  Is it another $50 to $100 a month… or more?  Please also consider the lost income of parents who have to take and pick up their kids every day?  My point - for most families with kids in the schools, it is a cost savings for their household to VOTE YES.  That’s not opinion… that’s a FACT.

While I am at it, I know there is a contingent of wealthy families who will just contemplate moving their kids to private schools.  Let’s see… another several thousand to pay for the kid’s education… or Vote YES?  To my way of thinking, it has the potential to cost the wealthy more if the referendum fails than if it passes.

Issue 11

Private School Parents… now it’s your turn.  Go ahead and “Vote No”.  Then, you can be part of the referendum failure and you get all of the families coming your way to your private schools… families who just want a better education for their kids.  Here goes your protective bubble because with the good kids come some bad kids… some kids that take significant teaching resources because they just need a little more attention.  Now, the exclusivity you pay dearly for each year isn’t quite as exclusive.  Class sizes grow, but we all know your facilities aren’t going to grow that quickly.  Welcome to the challenges Franklin Township has faced for years.  TOO MANY KIDS… NOT ENOUGH CLASSROOMS AND NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES TO SERVICE ALL OF THE KIDS ADEQUATELY!  So who suffers?  Yes, your children do.  This all happened because you didn’t want to pay another $41 a month in property taxes.

Enjoy the savings!  I see your protective bubble bursting as I write this.

Issue 12

This is more of a public service announcement.

There is a “town hall” meeting at the Lifepoint Church on Combs Road Thursday night at 6:30.  It is being sponsored by the “Senior Citizens for Franklin Township”, a Vote No group.  Their announcement says, “arrive early, limited seating, no childcare provided”.

Well, let me be the first to express my shock at the “no childcare provided” disclaimer.  These “Vote No” people don’t care about kids in this township.  They care about are themselves!  While the working parents of Franklin Township children fund social security and Medicare out of every pay check so these people can receive their health care and a monthly check… money I completely acknowledge they worked years to earn and reach retirement, but it is also money that our generation will never see in our lifetime because the system will be bankrupt by the time most of us are old enough to receive benefits… we fund these things without objection week after week.  Yet, there is obviously a segment of the Senior Citizen population in Franklin Township who sees it as their obligation to focus solely on themselves and take away the educational opportunities currently available to the kids of Franklin Township.  (Don’t play the fixed income card… I just told you in Issue #6 that their taxes will be LESS THAN any they have paid to date.)

As I said in a previous message, you would think these would be the people who would value education and want to provide better opportunities for their children and grandchildren.  I just don’t understand it.  What great role models you are “Senior Citizens for Franklin Township”!  I hope our kids grow up to be productive citizens in spite of your lousy example.  And, to those of you senior citizens who plan to VOTE YES, especially those of you without children or grandchildren in the schools, THANK YOU for your investment in the children of Franklin Township.  I know the kids will appreciate your sacrifice, even if they don’t acknowledge it for another 20 years! 

Issue 13

Why was the original increase in the first failed referendum at .33 per $100 of assessed value and this request is .75 per hundred of assessed value?

FACT - The original projections for the property tax cap impacts were INDIANA STATE Government estimates provided by the Legislative Services Agency (LSA).  In 2009, using trend data they had available at that time, the LSA estimated or forecasted a loss of $2,600,000 in property tax revenue for Franklin Township as a result of the implementation of the 1% property tax caps.

Then, a funny thing happened… and this is FACT… as the government drilled down the analysis to the county level and further to the local level over the course of the last 2 years… the ACTUAL revenue lost as a result of the tax caps grew exponentially to become $9,700,000 for 2011.  In other words, the LSA so badly underestimated the impact of property tax caps that the original referendum request would have been insufficient.

So, those of you open-minded, reasonable people who want an honest explanation as to how FTCSC went from a need of $3,000,000 to $13,000,000… there’s your answer.

Issue 14

What happens when the $100,000,000 to $110,000,000 gets distributed across the state to school systems as a result of the increases in funding planned by Governor Daniels after addressing full day kindergarten.  What will FTCSC do with that money?

I know this is redundant, but if the referendum result is a YES VOTE, the FACT is these funds will be used by the school system and the levy to the community will no longer have to be .75 per $100 in assessed value, but some lower number because the school will only seek from the taxpayers what it needs to maintain current operations.  It will not seek to expand its empire in any way.  Even the recently instituted “pay for play” is not going away if the school system gets additional funding.

One other key piece of information to keep in mind… again a reminder… Our state cut education funding by $450 million in recent years and more of that funding is bound to be reintroduced into the schools in the coming years as our state enters a recovery phase.  The goal is simply to allow the schools to stay open and maintain services.  All other dollars will be applied to reducing the taxpayer levy.  Wouldn’t it be great if the state restored the $2.5 million they took away each of the last two years?

Issue 15

Well, what happens if the school system wins its lawsuit against the state of Indiana for unfair funding per student?

FACT – any additional money gained to reimburse the school system for the years of inadequate funding will only be used to reduce the levy for the community.

Issue 16

What if the school system played the lottery and won a billion dollars?  They would just waste the money and keep jacking up taxes, wouldn’t they?

No, in FACT, they would reduce the levy on the tax payers and only seek to maintain current services.  Okay, I made this one up as a joke to exaggerate… but how many ways do you have to be told that the only goal of the school system is to maintain current services?  This means keeping schools open, keeping teachers in classrooms, and keeping programs in place – including art, music and PE.

Issue 17… THIS IS A BIG ONE!

A lot of misinformation is being circulated regarding Dr. Bourke’s compensation package as Superintendent of Franklin Township Schools, as well as administrative compensation in general.  Here are some of the questions, comments and other general nonsense I have been sent regarding compensation. 

COMMENT: The cost to employ Dr. Bourke went up 25k from 2009 to 2010… they are hiding his compensation… Franklin Township administrative compensation has increased between 6% and 8% (2 year average for past two years)…  The school district claims that senior administrators took a pay cut or freeze, which is FALSE information… From 2009 to 2010, Dr. Bourke's total compensation package increased by 16.5% from $205,556 to $239,449… Note:  His salary dropped by $10,000, but he was given a $10,000 tax deferred annuity.  Did you get a $10,000 deferred Annuity this year?... If the district claims to have frozen administrative salaries in 2011, did they give themselves extraordinary raises in 2010 (12.2% to 16.5%) in anticipation of this referendum?

Okay, that’s a boatload of ignorance to address, but here are the FACTS for those who care to deal in FACTS.

Superintendent’s Contract

2006 – 2021

Dr. Bourke’s original three year contract began in July of 2006.  The base salary was $150,000 per year.  He also received $8,000 per year as a transportation allowance.  The allowance compensated him for the regular use of his vehicle and fuel for conducting school district business without filing a monthly travel voucher.  He also at the time of his hiring received an annual annuity payment upon the completion of each year of his contract.  The annuity payment was originally $15,000 and increased by $5,000 each of the next two years.  In 2009, the annuity was $25,000.  In the original contract, he also received health insurance payments in the amount of $19,180 per year.  Lastly, he received all of the additional retirement benefits and contributions afforded all other administrators.  In 2009, the total cost of his employment was $216,151.  In 2010, the insurance coverage for all administrators was reduced by $2,089.  In 2010, the total cost of his employment was $213,999.53.  Again, employing my outstanding math skills learned at Franklin Central High School, this seems to be a decrease in compensation and not the 16.5% increase the “Vote No” folks embellished.   

In November of 2010, he signed a revised contract.  The revised contract reduced his base salary to $140,000 per year – a $10,000 per year reduction.  It also provided for additional increases to his annual annuity payment of $2,000 EVERY OTHER YEAR.   If he were to remain at FTCSC for another 10 years, the reductions in his salary and benefits from the original 2006 contract will total $71,168. 

Further FACT… I was on the board at the time of Dr. Bourke’s hiring.  I was personally involved in the hiring of the Superintendent and negotiation of the original contract.  I personally did research on the compensation plan of every Superintendent in Marion County, as well as the larger school districts in each of the counties surrounding Marion.  Any of you can feel free to investigate Superintendent compensation plans at that time - or even in the current year for that matter.  You will NOT find a less compensated Superintendent in any of the surrounding school systems and that is a FACT.  I think we did a great job for the tax payers in 2006.  I think it remains a very good deal for the taxpayers today.

Now, I recognize some of you are jealous of the amount of money he makes and will immediately say he doesn’t deserve that much.  He runs a major multi-million dollar corporation and is compensated less than his peers with similar districts and responsibilities.  Actually, he makes less than peers in smaller districts.  Get over yourselves!

Now, for a little more of my own opinion and a bit of emotion… why don’t you people be thankful that the man willingly offered to cut his own pay by $10,000?  And for the “Vote No” people inaccurately sharing this compensation information with the public, get your facts straight!

By the way, I know darn well many of you wouldn’t offer to give up $71,168 in compensation potential as Dr. Bourke has.  Do you know how I know that?  I know it because you won’t even vote for a tax referendum to benefit the children of your community and that will be a cost that is less than $41 a month for most of you.  

For those who are still reading this far and questioning the validity of what I am telling you, if you want the compensation table of Bourke’s actual income, email me and I will send a copy.

Issue 18

Now, let’s talk about the FACTS associated with administration.  First of all, it is a FACT that the Franklin Township administrative costs rank 335 out of 349 school districts in the state.  Yes, that is in the 97^th percentile of the lowest cost administrative staff in the entire state.

It is also a FACT that the total compensation to all administrative staff (including principals and assistant principals in all of our schools) totaled $4,475,748.64 in 2009-10 school year.

In 2010-11, that administrative number dropped to $3,968,220.43.  That is a FACT!

The “Vote No” people would tell you that their compensation increased.

Will someone please remind Dr. Will and his “Vote No” friends that appropriations are not the same thing as actual costs?

Any other past graduates of Franklin Central High School want to take a stab at whether this constitutes an increase in compensation or a decrease in compensation for the administrators?  The “Vote No” people think this is some kind of super secret, hidden, paranoid increase in compensation from their emails, but I seem to see a savings of over $475,000.

Again, I have the compensation table that validates all of this information in my possession.

Issue 19

Well, surely the recent concessions by the teachers are just some last minute gimmick, right?  I mean, who would give up a bunch of benefits 3 weeks before an election?  And the first question of the “Vote No” crew is, “Where is the taxpayer relief from these concessions?”

FACT – In recent negotiations between the FTCSC Administration and the Teachers Union, the teachers stepped up… just like the Superintendent and the Administrative staff members already had… and they agreed to pay freezes that will save the district $489,000, as well as agreeing to pay a greater portion of the benefits package that will result in additional savings of $1,200,000 per year.

FACT – the “Vote No” people need to quit assuming the worst and simply ask the same question as shown above in ISSUES #14, 15 and 16.  If there is a YES VOTE for the referendum next week, will this savings be passed back to the taxpayers in the form of a reduced levy?  The answer is the same as before… YES it will.  Again, the goal of the school corporation is simply to maintain the current level of services for its students.  Does that sound like a broken record?  YES.

Issue 20

Is there a real life example of a school system that has passed a referendum and then come across unexpected funding?

YES, it is a FACT that Speedway schools recently passed a referendum and then had unexpected funds available that improved their financial position and they were able to lessen the need of taxpayer dollars and reduced the levy accordingly.

Issue 21

It has been suggested by the “Vote No” supporters that everyone just vote against this request and that will create chaos at the state level - so they will have to address the problem, then we can just come back next year and ask for another referendum to be voted on.

Okay, I am jumping straight to sarcasm on this one.

How ignorant is this approach?  The Franklin Township community voted down the last referendum.  Does anyone think those 81 teachers will just be sitting there waiting to be brought back?  Maybe those that support this approach will run over and turn the dang lights back on at Acton, Wanamaker and FTMS West when we are ready in 2012-2013.  While they are at it, they can go ahead and reintroduce the art, music and PE curriculums at the elementary levels.  If they have a little extra time, they can start up all the buses they parked at the transportation center while the parents drive their kids back and forth twice a day for a school year.  After all, what’s the big deal there?  Oh, we had to eliminate the transportation department… I hope these wonderful community volunteers who just want what is best know how to recreate bus routes because the school system won’t have anyone to do it.  Give me a break.

I have a better idea.  Pass the referendum on May 3^rd and we can still all go to the state house and raise heck… but our kids won’t be hurt in the meantime.

Does anyone realize who suffers the most in this process?  FACT – It is the kids who suffer.

Yes, the kids.

The adults in this community are supposed to serve as the voice for these kids and look out for their best interests.  Try to remember that.

Issue 22

FACT - Over 400 kids marched through Wanamaker this past weekend in an effort to wake you adults up and let you know they care about their schools and want your support.

Issue 23

People in Wanamaker and Acton, you do realize your schools are closing for sure if this doesn’t pass, correct?  People with kids at FTMS West understand that as well, correct?  You middle school parents realize you will be driving your kids to and from school and then also to FTMS West for athletic activities because that is still where many of the sports will take place since they have facilities over there to house these events?

Parents of Orchestra and Choir Students at Franklin Central High School, you do realize you will lose your directors and in some cases your programs if this referendum doesn’t pass, correct?

All parents, you do realize you lose bus transportation for your kids, correct?

Elementary parents, you do understand no more PE, Art, Music or Library for your kids if this referendum doesn’t pass, correct?

Issue 24

Brett Martin, Certified Indiana Residential Appraiser, shared an analysis on April 6, 2011 that can be found at:

www.appraisers.in/Franklin-Township-School-Referendum

His professional assessment is that a failed referendum will result in a majority of the family sized properties becoming much less attractive than communities such as Hamilton Southeastern and Carmel where those communities supported a school referendum and  to make up for the shortfall attributed to the 1% tax caps.

Further, he sees a significant decline in the median home prices from the present values.  He expects a continued decline over time ultimately reaching a level of stagnation as market participants leave for competing communities that passed their referendums which ultimately made their communities more desirable.

Issue 25 

Dr. Will chose to refer to a report reflecting expenditure per student in an email sent out from the “Vote No” group.  First of all, his reporting is based on all of the school funds being added together… general fund, debt service, transportation, capital projects fund, etc. and then dividing these totals by the number of pupils.  That is of little relevance at all, but since all this does is reinforce my point that Franklin Township gets insufficient funding, I will share the information with you.

FACT – Franklin Township receives the 3^rd lowest funding per pupil in Marion County… and we only trail the smaller school systems of Speedway and Beech Grove.  So, what case is he trying to make?

2010 MARION COUNTY TOTAL EXPENDITURES PER PUPIL

STATE AVERAGE                                                                               11,100

Franklin Township                                                                             10,800

 Beech Grove                                                                                     10,700

 Decatur Township                                                                            11,700

 Indianapolis Public Schools                                                              14,800

 Lawrence Township                                                                          13,400

 Perry Township                                                                                 11,000

 Pike Township                                                                                  12,800

 Speedway                                                                                            9,800

 Warren Township                                                                             11,300

 Washington Township                                                                     10,800

Wayne Township                                                                              12,700

*3^rd Lowest in Marion County

Issue 26

Here is a list of actions taken by the school system in recent years to cut costs.  Does this look like a school system milking the taxpayer dollars?  The schools don’t even have evening janitors any longer and have to charge the local youth sports leagues for the use of facilities… not by choice, but because the funds aren’t there to subsidize the activities.  Take a look at the list.

SUMMARY OF FTCSC EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS

·         2006-2010 - 36%  Central Administrator Salaries – Administrator salaries as a percent of operational expenses 7.1% (335 of 349 school systems in the state of Indiana)

·         July 2010 - reduced 40 certified staff positions including 17 teacher RIF’s

·         Pay-to-Participate for all sports and extra-curricular activities

·         Administrator salary reduced by $2,089 per administrator for health insurance

·         Holidays eliminated for less than 12 month classified employees

·         July 2010 - reduced 29 custodial/maintenance positions (30%)

·         Reduced transportation costs for 2010 by projected $1.0+ Million

·         2011 Teacher salary increments and health insurance costs reduced by

$1.7 Million

Issue 27

The schools have cut spending by 16.1% in the last two years when comparing 1^st quarter numbers.

QUARTER 1 EXPENDITURES (FTCSC)                          CHANGES

2009                       $15,165,803

2010                       $14,104,571                                               ($1,061,232)    (7.0%)

2011                       $12,724,593                                               ($1,379,978)    (9.1%)

                                                                                                   ($2,441,210)  (16.1%)

Issue 28

Let me give you a little feel for the types of sacrifices that will be made when you gut programs in our schools.

Here’s a video I would love for each of you to watch, particularly you “Vote No” people if you are still reading.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-DB1Sm21jk

Listen to the words – all of the words.  They are so appropriate from the beginning to the end… I’ll let our FC Singers Show Choir tell you themselves what they think of the decisions to Vote No to the referendum.

How can you possibly take a program like this away from these talented high school kids?  How can you take music and the arts away from elementary children that lay the groundwork for high school kids like this to pursue their dreams?

Issue 29

There is a total of $308,484,544.00 in debt service at this time.  This is based on all the construction of our schools over the last several years, all of which is a direct result of all of the growth our township has experienced.  If I projected an overly critical 5 million dollars of waste over the years, that is still less than 2% of the total “current” debt service… so understanding that we have paid down some of the debt annually, in reality it is fair to say that in my opinion we have had less than 2% waste.  Now, you may choose not to believe that, but given what I know from having been there and involved in the details, this is my assessment.  In my business, I would kill to experience only 2% waste.  All in all, I think Franklin Township has been a very good steward of the tax dollars. 

Take into account that our total assessed valuation for Franklin Township is currently $1,715,166,186.00 and a challenge emerges.  The 1% property tax cap presented by Mitch Daniels and passed by the State of Indiana has reduced the amount of dollars the school system has available to pay the debt service for all of our growth.  The assessed valuation number is 50% of what it was and this is what is killing Franklin Township schools.  The fact is without this referendum there will be no dollars left to pay for bus transportation after we pay the annual portion of the debt service on the $308 million described above.  To cut through all of the numbers, this is the source of Franklin Township losing $9.7 million dollars in funding annually because of the 1% tax cap in the CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, which facilitates buildings and funds the debt, etc.  The loss of that $9.7 million annually means we barely have enough dollars to pay our interest on debt service from the buildings we needed… and that fund is also supposed to cover the utility bills for the school buildings.  Oh, by the way, the law says we have to provide transportation for some types of students (IE – Special needs, etc.).  So, since we have no money left in that fund, now we will be paying for that transportation out of our GENERAL FUND, which is already 3.1 million underfunded, because we won’t get enough money to have a transportation fund.  Are you getting the idea yet?

So, when someone tells you it is a dirty trick for the schools to cut bus transportation and they cannot do that… the reality is they will HAVE TO (except for the state required transportation)… not because they choose to but because they will have no money to fund it.

Finally… Issue 30

How many of you can show me a business that loses “30%” of its revenue and is expected to keep its doors open without a glitch in service?  That is what is expected of the Franklin Township School Corporation.  They have lost 30% of their funding after experiencing incredible growth for a very long period of time and now must keep their doors open… while their product (the students) are not allowed to  suffer in terms of the level of service they receive per the direction of the shareholders (the taxpayers and caring parents of students). 

This is just not possible.  So, if the taxpayers choose not to help, the kids will suffer greatly.

Or, the taxpayers can speak for the kids, VOTE YES, and do the right thing.

----------------------------- 

It is a difficult issue.  I sincerely understand this.  There are no easy answers.

Just evaluate the information and do what you think is right!