From the Journal Star:
The School Board on Monday voiced a consensus seeking what amounts to about $69 million in local property taxes next year, an increase of about 1 percent, but far less than the 6.5 percent increase requested last year…. The proposed levy would add about $18 [to a $100,000 home]…. Prompting that increase is District 150 has 15 schools in need of a mandated 10-year safety survey yet this year and another 11 schools next year.
According to 1470 WMBD:
[Interim Comptroller/Treasurer Dave] Kinney says the levy would allow for about $700,000 more to be collected toward the life safety inspections – which are required by law – but it’s just a start. “With the first eight schools on the list it’s looking like about a $6-million price tag over a five year period,” says Kinney. “It’s not anything we have to address immediately but going forward we know we’re going to have to address it at some point.” …Kinney says the levy alone does not completely solve the district’s budget deficit. “There are going to have to be other decisions made to help not only balance the budget this year but next year, too, “says Kinney.
In other words, once again we’re going to be paying more for less. It will be interesting to see how current school board member Jim Stowell votes on this tax increase, and how that decision affects his run for Peoria City Council.
Jon, let’s just leave it at–the District lost money that was spent foolishly.
Tonight’s District Watch meeting has been cancelled–probably goes without saying.
I was at a neighbor’s holiday party last night and had a nice little chat about you, Sharon, and some of the conversations we have (I was talking with family of yours – they have two kids in primary school). I understand you’ll see them on Christmas Eve, if not before, so it’ll be your turn to talk about me – but not learn too much 🙂
Jon, would that family have children at the Peoria Academy? Yes, I am busy wrapping their Christmas presents right now. That is my cousin and her husband (who was one of my students, also). So that’s what you’ve been doing–going to holiday parties instead of blogging. 🙂 Ironically, I was just thinking of you as I was finishing up my compilation of District 150 class sizes for all regular division English, math, and social studies classes. Only 23 of 184 classes have 16 or fewer students. 69 classes have from 30 to 35 students. 115 classes have from 26 to 29. However, the Illinois Report card will still list some ridiculously low number as the average for the district–doesn’t help the students and teachers in these large classes though.