The Marysville Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to put a 5.5-mill, 10-year emergency operating levy before voters in November.
Discussion on the topic focused on two key areas – how much money would be needed to properly educate students versus what number people would vote to approve.
In the early stages of the meeting, officials were discussing a 4.9-mill property tax. District Treasurer Todd Johnson said comments within the community had indicated that no levy above 5 mills would be supported. Board member Nan Savidge echoed those sentiments, saying the idea was especially prevalent among older voters.
Board member Matt Keller asked if the funding from such a levy would be enough to restore the cuts put in place following the defeat of an 8.4-mill levy in May. He said voters will want to know exactly what will be brought back if the levy passes.
A hiring freeze was put in place that has caused class sizes to increase and cuts were made to extracurriculars that impacted the number of coaches/advisors as well as transportation.
The cuts allowed the district to save about $2 million per year as officials try to stretch dollars with a budget that sees expenses outpacing revenue by nearly $4 million per year. As that gap continues to grow, the district could burn through cash reserves in three years without a new revenue source.
Johnson said that he did not believe the 4.9 mill levy would allow the district to restore all the cuts that were put in place. Superintendent Diane Allen agreed, but said there could be bigger factors at play.
Allen said the levy situation is becoming a stressor for teachers.
“It’s definitely on the minds and hearts of everyone,” Allen said
She said class sizes and salaries are going to impact the district’s ability to retain quality teachers as other districts expand their teacher rolls.
“People have an opportunity to go and they will leave,” Allen said.
Allen said the district’s student-teacher ratio is the 48th worst in the state, meaning 92% of districts have more teachers per student.
She also noted that starting teacher salaries at Marysville are falling into the bottom third when measured against districts across the state. She said the district has always aimed to hit about the middle of the range of starting salaries.
While those issues might indicate a need for a larger ask, Allen indicated something was more pressing.
“I will tell you, we also need a win,” she said.
Members of the board asked Johnson what a 5.5-mill levy would generate.
Johnson said a 5.5-mill measure would generate roughly $6.2 million per year, which is about $600,000 more than a 4.9-mill levy would generate. While it was never explicitly said that all the cuts could be restored if a 5.5-mill levy passed, board members indicated that it was the best option.
“As an advocate for all kids I worry that (4.9 mills) won’t be enough,” Keller said.
Smith said that many members of the community were upset by the cuts that were enacted and the district needs to give itself the best option toward reversing those actions.
“It’s always hard for me to ask for less (than what is needed),” Smith said.
Board president Bill Keck said the issue of class sizes could be an issue that steamrolls the district.
“I hate going backward,” Keck said. “It’s going to get ugly fast.”
Smith said the majority of the money from the levy will go toward teacher salaries and they must be optimistic that the potential money generated will make things better for educators.
“Our ask needs to provide hope,” he said.
The board voted unanimously to go with the 5.5-mill, 10-year emergency options for the November ballot. Johnson explained the idea of the 10-year term of the levy is to push any renewal out past a window near the end of the decade where the district may look to a bond issue to accommodate enrollment growth.
Smith said the levy is absolutely necessary to give local students the type of education the community expects, rather than what has been provided after the cuts.
“We have hurt kids,” Smith said. “We have not done right by kids in my opinion.”
Keller said the members of the board must start immediately to take the message of need to the public.
“This starts with us as soon as we walk out those doors,” Keller said.
He said board and levy committee must sell the levy to the community and spread the message even to those people who have opposed previous levies.
“Damn it, our kids deserve it,” Keller said.