District 29 to request levy of $200,000

For the second year in a row the Lakeside-Somers School District is running a levy request. Last year’s request was denied, but the need is still there along with additional upcoming costs.

“We’re trying to sell it to the folks and make them recognize what we need done here because education will be impacted if we don’t do something,” Superintendent Paul Jenkins said. “One doesn’t have to look too far around to see there are needs for repairs and maintenance.”

Lakeside Elementary School’s roof needs repaired, Somers Middle School’s gym has missing tiles in the ceiling, the district’s technology is outdated and the list goes on. The district goes further into the red when projected insurance price increases and the Common Core Standards are factored into the budget along with pending state requirements yet to be voted upon by the Legislature.

A levy request for $200,000, or approximately 8.57 mills, was unanimously approved by the board of trustees last Tuesday to cover these repairs and retain accreditation with the state.

According to board member Courtney Shaeffer, if the levy doesn’t pass the district will be in the same position they were in a year ago with increased class sizes, less funding for supplies and a loss of accreditation status with the state.

“The biggest thing that came out (of the finance committee’s work) was the deficit in the budget is real and we don’t have the funding to fund the current staffing situation,” trustee Tim Rogge said.

Shaeffer explained that the district is short about $100,000 for staff salaries and that insurance costs will increase next year too. She also said that the district’s levy request is smaller this year than last year.

The district’s general-fund levy request of $405,000, or 18.7 mills, was defeated last year with 626 votes against it and 515 votes for it. Last year’s request was a projection for what would be needed over the next three to five years. The board credited being creative with the budget and a bit of luck for how they were able to retain accreditation without last year’s requested funds.

The adopted general fund budget for fiscal year 2012-13 was $3,281,424.90.

The highest budget the district could anticipate without voter approval is $3,274,665.66 excluding tuition, excess reserves and other over-base revenues. The highest budget the district could anticipate with voter approval is $3,720,958.05.

According to Jenkins, a lot of variables are unknown at this point as the state Legislature still has several bills to cover that could impact school funding.

“In a perfect world, they (the Legislature) would have addressed that by now,” Jenkins said. “But, with that being such a huge piece of the pie, it doesn’t come in until the end and we can’t rest and wait for that.”

The Lakeside-Somers school board’s next meeting will be held on April 16 at Somers Middle School.