WCSB Special Referendum 5/17/2011

[30ashopper]

Please vote yes on the referendum. Bob is right. It is tax neutral. We are asking the voters to allow us to transfer a .5 mill from the capital outlay budget to the operating budget. As you know, the capital outlay budget is a budget where we can levy up to 2.0 mills for construction and maintenance of buildings. We have to ask the voters permission for the transfer every four years. This is the third time we have asked. When we first received permission from the voters to do this, we simultaneously reduced the capital outlay millage by the one half mill so there would not be a tax increase. In fact, since that time, we lowered the capital outlay millage again. So, this is not a tax increase. Just a transfer from one pot of money to the other.

This money will go to the operations budget which is the budget from which we pay teachers, buy materials, pay utilities, etc. We used the transferred money to initially raise teachers' salaries substantially so we could compete for good teachers with surrounding counties. We are there now. We now need the money to maintain those salaries given the State is continuing to shrink our operating budget. This half mill money is essential to maintain our current level of service.

Why has the board done what appears to be a lousy job of budgeting? If you knew you would need additional operating outlays and fewer capital outlays why didn't you request the appropriate millage rates initially?

 

[scooterbug44]

I voted saturday - was #203 at the annex.

 

[Anne Watts]

A couple of questions. Can you still vote at your regular polling place? Is it routine on this forum to vilify someone who may not agree with the majority of those posting here?

 

[Bob Hudson]

All precints will be open tomorrow.

 

[mdd88jd]

Lousy Job

Why has the board done what appears to be a lousy job of budgeting? If you knew you would need additional operating outlays and fewer capital outlays why didn't you request the appropriate millage rates initially?

You are preaching to the choir. Remember I am the "tax and spend" democrat on the board. :roll: This year we have the local option millage as high as it will go and that it is the only millage we set that has any effect on the operations budget. The operations budget is based almost exclusively on the State's FEFP (Florida Education Funding Plan) per student allocation. We have a difficult time projecting for more than the current budget year because that per student allocation changes every year and those changes can be substantial. If we would have left the local option millage at the maximum rate during the property value run up, we would be awash (a bit of an exaggeration) in money on the operations side. But, even I thought that was fiscally irresponsible.

Frankly, considering that we have weathered this huge economic downturn and significant reductions in state funding, without having to cut out large programs or make large layoffs, is a testament to some pretty good budget planning. We essentially saved for this rainy day.

Were we perfect? Heck no. We have some salaries and positions that need re-examining and we are doing so during this budget cycle. On the capital side, we thought the construction of the new ECMS would solve any potential student growth on south Walton for several years. But, we didn't anticipate the exceptional rate of student number increase in south Walton, but, we are working to fix that problem. Even with the half mill transfer out of the capital budget, we will be able to fix that problem.

We have complete control of the capital outlay budget and we are authorized to levy up to 2.0 mills. The legislature allows us to transfer a portion of that millage to the operations side, but, the voters must approve that transfer and if approved we must seek re-approval every four years. This vote, this year, is the third time we have asked for approval.

It is possible that if the per pupil allocations had stayed at the 2006-07 levels, we would not have to ask for this transfer. But, alas, those allocations diminished.

 

[Bob Hudson]

Mark you are the 6.3 million dollar athletic field guy - that one is your puppy !

Is it true you are buying Apple iPads for all students ? Are you going to buy two for each - one to keep at home and one to be used at school ? Isn't that what you do with textbooks ?

I still say vote "Yes" - should not punish students for sins of the legislature. We fund schools in the wrong way.

 

[30ashopper]

You are preaching to the choir. Remember I am the "tax and spend" democrat on the board. :roll:

Sorry, I haven't interacted with your on SoWal, and it sounded from your first post like you were a memeber of the local school board, so I addressed you directly in my response.

This year we have the local option millage as high as it will go and that it is the only millage we set that has any effect on the operations budget. The operations budget is based almost exclusively on the State's FEFP (Florida Education Funding Plan) per student allocation. We have a difficult time projecting for more than the current budget year because that per student allocation changes every year and those changes can be substantial. If we would have left the local option millage at the maximum rate during the property value run up, we would be awash (a bit of an exaggeration) in money on the operations side. But, even I thought that was fiscally irresponsible.

Hypothetical question - what prevents Walton County from setting the operations millage to zero. Would we still receive funds back from the state for operations?

Frankly, considering that we have weathered this huge economic downturn and significant reductions in state funding, without having to cut out large programs or make large layoffs, is a testament to some pretty good budget planning. We essentially saved for this rainy day.

Were we perfect? Heck no. We have some salaries and positions that need re-examining and we are doing so during this budget cycle. On the capital side, we thought the construction of the new ECMS would solve any potential student growth on south Walton for several years. But, we didn't anticipate the exceptional rate of student number increase in south Walton, but, we are working to fix that problem. Even with the half mill transfer out of the capital budget, we will be able to fix that problem.

We have complete control of the capital outlay budget and we are authorized to levy up to 2.0 mills. The legislature allows us to transfer a portion of that millage to the operations side, but, the voters must approve that transfer and if approved we must seek re-approval every four years. This vote, this year, is the third time we have asked for approval.

It is possible that if the per pupil allocations had stayed at the 2006-07 levels, we would not have to ask for this transfer. But, alas, those allocations diminished.

How much can we redirect? Now I'm starting to see this as a unique way for Walton County to invest locally in our own school system every year without the state meddling in our operations budget.

 

[wrobert]

At one time Walton County was funding over 90% of the budget because of such low student census numbers. Now that we have students, I doubt we could afford to do this, but it was discussed in the past.

 

[weeniedawg]

Calm down everybody. It'll pass.

 

[wrobert]

A couple of questions. Can you still vote at your regular polling place? Is it routine on this forum to vilify someone who may not agree with the majority of those posting here?

Yes and speaking from experience, absolutely, be careful about having your own opinion cause if it is to far to the right, you are toast.