School District wants taxpayers to approve a $1.2 million levy

^{By ELIZABETH LADEN}

ISLAND PARK — The Fremont School District will hold a special election at the Island Park City Building on Tuesday, July 7 —and at other locations in the county— that will ask voters to approve a $1.2 million supplemental levy.

This would raise property taxes $21.62 per year per $100,000 of a home’s valuation — for people who take the homeowner’s exemption, according to Zion's Bank Public Finance Department. People whose second homes are in the county will be taxed at a higher rate, but the School District’s Finance Officer, Craig Summers, was unable to say how much higher when he was interviewed Wednesday.

The District’s Board of Trustees, which includes Shawn Dye of Island Park, voted last month to unanimously support the supplemental levy, which, if passed, will sunset after two years.

Summers said the $1.2 million is needed because the District’s state funding has been cut. He said the money will be used to maintain and operate  schools in the county from July 2009 to June 2011. Around $96,000 will also be used to give teachers, administrators, and support staff bonuses that will slightly offset pay cuts.

Summers said all district employee’s salaries have been cut 3 percent. The cut includes 2 percent off their base salaries and two furlough days, he noted. But if the levy is passed, the district's 150 teachers will each get a $400 bonus in February. That’s $60,000 total. The 180 other district employees may see a bonus, if the levy passes, of $200 or less, Summers said. If they all get $200 bonuses, the non teaching staff total would be $36,000, so total bonuses paid could amount to $96,000

If the levy fails, the School Board will have to make further cuts in the district’s basic operations.

School administrators say they have already made major cuts, and claim that the decision to close Lincoln Elementary School in St. Anthony and move students and staff to Henry's Fork Elementary, formerly Central Elementary, was a cost saving measure.

Note: The ballot states, “Should the Fremont School District be allowed to levy for $600,000 in property taxes for the next two years to help cover maintenance and operation expenses?” But to be clear, it should say, “$600,000 in property taxes for EACH OF the next two years.”

The Island Park News learned about the election from angry callers who heard about it when they were shopping in the valley. On Wednesday, Summers said a notice of the election was posted at the Island Park City Building, but in fact, no notice was posted. The News explained to Summers that a notice on the City Building at the far south end of Island Park is no way to communicate information to the community.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the following locations:
• Island Park City Building in Island Park
• North Fremont High School in Ashton
• Chester Pavilion in Chester
• South Fremont High School in St. Anthony
• Parker Elementary School in Parker
• Teton Elementary School in Teton
• Diana Richman residence at 3381 N. 5000 East, Teton

Absentee ballots are available at the Fremont School District Office, 945 W 1st N, St. Anthony. You can go there to vote before Tuesday during business hours. For more information, call 624.7542.
 

This is part of the June 25, 2009 online edition of The Island Park News.

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