From today's Star Tribune:
Only one of the three levies on Stillwater's ballot passed -- a $927-per-pupil levy that will replace the district's expiring levy. The other measures would have combined to reduce class sizes by an average of 2.3 students and fund a curriculum review.
That should warm Saint Paul's pocketbook. I'm sure he would have liked to have a clean sweep, but beating back two of the three levies should still be considered a victory. Especially since levies in many other areas passed.
Out of 341 districts in the state, 99 were going to voters for more money. That's the second-most in recent history, trailing only 2001. Many schools were treating this year's results as critical to the future of their school programs. Some districts were poised to either reap tens of millions in new tax dollars or be forced to make drastic cuts.
As results came in, winners seemed to outnumber losers. The Associated Press was reporting 47 districts with at least one victory, compared with 27 defeats. Some with multiple questions had split verdicts.
Interesting to note that the labels "winners" and "losers" were applied to the districts, not to the taxpayers who actually pay for the levies. I'm pretty sure that Saint Paul considers himself a winner this morning.
SP ADDS: As with nuclear war, with the modern, teacher's union-driven school bond referendum, there are no winners, only losers.
If a majority of the voting citizens somehow overcome the crushing institutional PR campaign and manage to vote them down, the administration and school board are hell bent to make the students and community suffer. If these things pass, its more forced takings by the government and a validation of the notion that 10K per pupil funding wasn't enough and paying 50% of your income in total taxes is insufficient. Which means we'll probably be hearing more whining and threats from the "Yes to Kids!" crowd well before this new levy expires.
More evidence of loss, a "polarized" community (I love to use that term like a liberal, as a bludgeon against those who win elections yet are supposed to do what the losers want instead). The one levy that passed was still rejected by 47% of the community.
Finally, the one levy that passed in Stillwater was the monster - $64 million. My pocket book feels no warmth at having to only fund that one. The other two were much smaller and completely gratuitous money grabs. I suspect they were only added as cover for the first one. It allowed some of those Stillwaterians who were leaning against the school district's enormous and deceptive money demands to vote "no" on these obvious gravy boats and feel fiscally responsible, while still voting for the "replacement" levy. Problem is, the replacement is twice as large as the expiring levy. "Replacing" $32 million with $64 million. Only in government.
The Elder Piles On: I apologize for declaring victory too soon. It sounds like the most egregious money grab for Saint Paul's wallet did indeed succeed.
On Monday on MPR, I heard one of the Stillwater levy proponents describe the vote as "do or die." I guess education in Stillwater is not dead after all.
In the same MPR piece, they made highlighted the fact that of the 99 districts asking for more money, something like ten or twelve faced organized opposition to the levies as if that were note worthy. What should be note worthy (and sad) is that the vast majority of districts once again faced no organized opposition at all.
Of course, those districts whose taxpayers have the gall to get together, stand up, and cry "No mas!" whine that it's not fair. From the same Strib story:
The Robbinsdale school district faced another challenge.
Iowa-based anti-tax consultant Paul Dorr, who has built a reputation by helping to defeat levy and bond requests in five Midwestern states, had been enlisted by levy opponents to help defeat the district's request. Dorr, who circulated anti-levy fliers to district residents, apparently turned the tide.
With results all in, voters rejected the district's proposal to extend the current $13.1 million-a-year levy and add $9.7 million in levy funds a year over the next decade. District Superintendent Stan Mack attributed the loss to the "Dorr factor," which included blizzarding district residents with mailings and phone calls on the last days before the vote.
Blizzarding district residents with mailings and phone calls? Sounds pretty much like what nearly every district does to push its residents to vote yes to levies. Throw in notes sent home with children, yard signs, and using local media at every opportunity to get their message across and groups that oppose levies pretty much have to bring in people like Dorr just to compete on an equal playing field.
UPDATE-- Paul e-mails to really pile on:
I awoke this morning to a beautiful day in the Robbinsdale school district. The birds were singing and the sun was shining and my wallet was safe, at least until they call a special election in February when the seniors are down south.
I enjoyed your comments on the levy (it was much easier to enjoy when the massive increase is not in my district). However, I would have liked it if you included the paragraph of the Strib story where the Robbinsdale superintendant called me and fellow "no" voters racists.
I'd also like to inform you that I never received a phone call, flyer or mailing from anyone advocating a "no" vote. I know they had that chili dinner rally, but that was funded at less than $20 per person, so any activity by consultants on the anti-levy side must have been minimal, unlike the glossy mailing that I got from the school district. Oh wait, I guess that was neutral since it just laid out the "facts," at least as our race-baiting superintendant sees them.
Finally, I knew it was a good sign when I saw a dozen blue-hairs at my polling place yesterday. As far as school levys go, I'm in favor of high voter turnout.
UPDATE II-- Derek has more on the vote in Robbinsdale at Freedom Dogs. (Be sure to read the comments.)
SP CONSOLES HIMSELF: Sisyphus reminds us in Stillwater why we should be glad to pay more for our government schools.
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