MEADOW HEIGHTS OFFICIALS HOPE FOR PASSAGE OF TAX HIKE

PATTON -- Meadow Heights school officials believe if voters understand the district's need for more money, they will approve a tax hike on the April 7 ballot.

For weeks, officials have been holding town meetings and making presentations to civic organizations trying to get the information out to voters, said Superintendent Tom Waller.

On Tuesday, voters will be asked to raise the tax rate 98 cents. If the measure fails, school programs totaling $113,000 will be cut, said Waller. The increase would generate an estimated $95,000.

The school district formed a "Committee for our children's future" made up of community leaders from outside the school system to help promote the issue.

"We're trying to tell the people our situation and then let them decide the future of our kids' education."

Waller believes voters are beginning to understand their message.

"I think that people have realized in the last three or four weeks that schools are definitely in trouble and we need to do something. Those who have found the facts are very supportive of the levy increase. They understand that the school system must help itself, and if we don't, the children are the ones who suffer."

Waller said the Missouri legislature is considering a bill that would require schools to have a $2 minimum tax levy.

"We are one of the 44 districts in the state with a tax rate ceiling under $2," he said. "I believe it will be much better if we just pass this ourselves rather than being forced to raise the levy later."

While the school technically is raising its tax rate 98 cents, taxpayers will realize only a 49-cent increase in their bills, Waller said.

Meadow Heights has the lowest possible tax levy. In fact, the Board of Education has raised the levy to $1.25 for the past five years.

The levy currently stands at $1.97. That rate is rolled back 91 cents because of Proposition C, making the levy $1.06.

But to qualify for state funds, a district must levy a tax of at least $1.25. The board is authorized to raise the rate to $1.25 without voter approval.

Taxpayers now pay a total school tax bill of $2.03 per $100 assessed valuation. The district levies 78 cents toward retirement of the debt on the elementary school.

Waller said the district plans to reduce the debt service charge from 78 cents to 49 cents. He said the debt can still be paid in five years at the lower rate.

If the increase is approved and changes made, Waller said the new rate would be $2.52 for five years. After five years, the debt will be paid off and the rate would drop to $2.04.

"It is a complicated matter," Waller said. "We talk about 98 cents, but people don't understand what's actually coming out of their pocket is 49 cents."

He said the tax increase does not increase salaries of school employees. "Our salaries are frozen," Waller said.

If the measure fails, the superintendent said, a plan is in place to cut $113,000 from the school's budget.

"These are not insignificant cuts we are making," he said. "And at this time it is vitally important that we look at ways of bettering our programs to make sure we're meeting our students' needs and preparing them for the future. This is certainly not a time to cut."

But that is the option should the tax increase measure fail.

"We formed a program reduction committee made up of community people," he said. The group last week laid a plan for what will be cut if the tax increase fails. The cuts total $113,000.

The recommended cuts are:

Full-day kindergarten would be cut to half-day.

Eliminate vocational agriculture.

Eliminate elementary, junior high and high school art. "That reduces our fine art offering to just one music," Waller said.

Eliminate elementary and junior high school physical education.

Eliminate assistant coaches for volleyball and basketball.

Eliminate girls softball and boys baseball.

Cut a full-time bus mechanic to half-time.

Eliminate summer employment of janitorial help.

Eliminate one full-time secretarial position from the central office.

Cut extended contracts for the librarian and home economics teacher to work a week before school starts and a week after school ends.

If voters approve the tax increase, all the programs affecting students will be maintained.

"Even if we pass the tax levy, we will have to make some cuts," Waller said. He said the district would cut about $15,000.