(Jackson, Mn.)– Residents in the Jackson County Central Community School District will head to the polls in November to decide the fate of an operating referendum. A similar proposal, that also included a capital projects levy, failed last year. Superintendent Dr. Mike Neubeck says they’re only seeking an operating referendum this go-round…
“This year, though, as we project out and we decided to stay with just the operating referendum and ask for $1,000 more per student. Right now with the levy that we have is in its eighth year, it’s got two more years of this levy for at $460 per student, and so we’re asking for another $1,000 more per student, so $1,460 for the next 10 years. There is an inflationary increase that happens each year, about two percent, but I would contend that because we’re looking at decreased enrollment, that for our taxpayers, you get paid per student so if they’re going down, that two percent pretty much keeps what they pay even but allows us to be able to maintain programs as we move forward.”
He adds this proposal takes some burden off those who own agricultural land. With the operating referendum, Dr. Neubeck says they wouldn’t see an increase in taxes on ALL of the land they own…
“So if they have 10,000 acres or 1,000 acres, whatever, or 100 acres, they’re taxed on their house, their garage and one acre, and it’s that way for every agricultural landowner moving forward as well, so it should be less expensive for them in the long run instead of going out like we did it last year.”
Dr. Neubeck adds that this proposal is strictly for maintaining programs and staffing and will have nothing to do with facilities…
“We understand it’s one time where they can say no to taxes and a tax increase and so forth, and I get it. And then we’re not showing off a big shiny building that we’re going to build or anything like that. Operating referendums can be harder to approve at times and get through because we’re just asking to keep all the great things we have for kids and keep it good for our community because strong schools are really about strong communities.”
Dr. Neubeck says JCC was forced to make $550,000 in financial adjustments after the measure failed last year. He says if this one also fails, they’ll be forced to make an additional $800,000 to a million dollars in reductions.
