TEACHERS FUNDING TAX LEVY PROMOTION

Cape Girardeau teachers will pay to promote a tax increase in August that will pump up their salaries and help maintain new classrooms.

By law, school districts cannot use district funds to promote ballot proposals, and committees of community members and school officials often are organized to obtain private backing for such issues.

But schools superintendent Dr. Dan Steska said he did not want to ask community members to put up the money for promotional aids because they donated about $8,500 to finance the bond issue campaign last year for the new high school under construction west of Kingshighway.

That's why he asked district staff members two weeks ago to contribute one-tenth of 1 percent of their annual salaries to buy advertising, mailings, flyers, brochures and other promotional aids for the campaign.

Within three days, more than $11,000 was raised, and about 85 percent of the district's roughly 590 employees have contributed over $12,000 to the campaign in two weeks.

"It was just an outpouring of support," said Steska, adding that he feared how staff and the community would perceive his request.

"I did get one or two people who felt that it was inappropriate to ask this, but the vast majority, I think, trust that the money will be spent for the right purposes and that there is a very legitimate need in the district," he said.

Central High School librarian Julia Jorgensen said the request was unusual, but many staff members contributed to the campaign because "it was presented in a way that made sense and seemed reasonable."

No one was forced to contribute, and Steska said he assured employees if they decided not to participate it would not be reflected in evaluations or other ways.

"It was not mandated. We were not coerced," Jorgensen said. "Because it was presented in such a logical fashion and because we are the ones that will benefit from having better schools, it was logical that we would be the ones to contribute."

Great gains

The district's employees have much to gain if voters approve the tax increase, which would generate about $19.1 million -- including $10.2 million for staff salary increases -- over the next five years.

But Narvol Randol, finance chairman for the campaign committee, said a number of other budget items also will be funded by the tax increase, including increased operating expenses caused by building expansion, new construction and inflation; installation of air conditioning at the existing high school and auditorium; and districtwide technology maintenance.

"Salaries are a part of it, but they're certainly not all of it," said Randol. "In my opinion, it's the same as them contributing to a new school building. The benefit is for the entire district."

Staff members said their support was as much a voluntary show of commitment to the schools and students as it was an interest in salary increases.

"My main concern is the upkeep of our buildings for the students and for the staff, too," said maintenance clerk Pat Vogelsang. "I don't think people stop and think what it costs to run these buildings day to day."

Levy explained

The district is requesting a 49-cent increase to the operating tax levy ceiling, which is adjusted annually by the state auditor's office to allow some growth for inflation.

If approved, the issue would mean a total 58-cent increase to the operating tax levy per $100 assessed valuation to cover many of the district's costs, including staff salaries. The 9-cent difference between the ballot wording and the actual levy is due to a related increase in the debt service levy and a cut in the amount of tax rollback the district takes.

Steska and Randol said staff members have endured budget freezes and cutbacks while the district improved buildings, but the time has come to show a commitment to them.

"These people have seen the need. They've seen frozen salaries, maintenance cutbacks, the fact that we could not purchase textbooks and furniture for their classrooms," said Steska. "The message I'm trying to convey to the community is that we want to help this district from the inside out and be an example to the community.".