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Show Lewi i-Guy Sst Fop M n Me By GARY R. BLODGETT FARMINGTON Davis Board of Education Tuesday night authorized a voted leeway of 4.0 mills to be placed on the ballot for a special election to be held Tuesday, November Novem-ber 27. In making the motion for the 4.0 mill-levy authorization, board member Sheryl Allen said only two mills should be used for maintenance and operation needs beginning in fiscal year 1980-81. Superintendent Bernell Wrigley said the voted leeway mill levy is necessary to make up a deficit in federal funding and spiraling inflation costs. He explained that the deficit in federal funding results in a substantial cutback of civilian student Class "B" impacted area appropriations. The proposed voted leeway of 4.0 mills would provide the district with $1,780,000. The first two mills would have state support and bring $560,000 each mill, but the second two mills would be without state support and derive only $330,000 for each mill, it was explained. ex-plained. Mrs. Allen said there would be three choices to making up the deficit left with the drastic reduction of federal funds: (1) To place the issue on the ballot for voter approval; ap-proval; (2) for the board to arbitrarily set a mill levy as authorized by the State Legislature; or (3) have drastic cuts in the district's maintenance and operations budget " - "These appropriations have been in jeopardy for several years, but this is the first year that the district has had to rely on the voted leeway for support," said Supt. Wrigley. He noted that the civilian Class "B" funds have been reduced substantially in recent years. In 1976-77, the district received $2,834,000. This was sliced to $2,484,000 in 1978-79 and this year's appropriation is estimated at only $1,800,000 a reduction of more than $1 million in the past three years. "And the estimated figure of $1,800,000 could be even less because the appropriations Committee of Congress has not yet set the actual amount," said Supt. Wrigley. He said the Board of Education had to take action before December 1 to qualify for the leeway levy which will go into effect next school year. Although most of the school funding comes from state and local taxes, federal funding has played an important role in maintenance, operation and capital improvements of the district, the superintendent emphasized. "Without continual federal funding, especially through House Bill 874 which aides high federally-impacted areas such as Davis County, it would have been a real struggle to stay ahead of inflation and other school costs. "But even with 'Class B' funding the district has been faced with increased costs and decreased revenue," the superintendent explained. He cited not only the spiraling inflationary costs, but also the additional programs and other costs that have been implemented by the federal government programs for the handicapped, Title IX (co-educational athletic program), expanded language programs, a 100 percent increase in heating fuel and other maintenance costs, and new schools and classroom additions to meet the growing propulation. "It's a never-ending battle," said Supt. Wrigley. "But our congressmen and state legislators have worked hard to maintain funding programs that have enabled us to continue con-tinue with the programs we have had while adding new programs as required by law." He said the leeway mill levy is being utilized by several other neighboring school districts also because of cutbacks in federal funding. Weber School District is to hold a special election Thursday. "This is the first time that we have felt the decrease in federal funding warranted a special leeway mill levy for additional revenue to make up the deficit in federal funds," said Supt. Wrigley. "But we feel that it is necessary to maintain the very fine educational program that we have in Davis School District." The money derived from the special election mill levy will be used for maintenance and operation, not for capital improvements such as new buildings, the superintendent explained. ' The new mill levy will be added to property taxes to be paid by all county property owners. Board members expressed concern about not placing the voted leeway mill levy too high, and yet wanted the levy to be sufficient to derive enough revenue to offset lack of federal funding for the next few years. Dee Forbes said, "Anything over two mills would reduce the chance of having a successful suc-cessful election, and I vote against the motion." Thus, the board vote was 4-1 in favor of the motion to have the mill levy request placed plac-ed on public ballot on the November 27 special election. Mrs. Theo Italasano said two mills would not be enough because "people would be irritated ir-ritated if we go back to them in a year or two and want more money." Dee Burningham, executive director of the Davis Education Association, said he favored a leeway of four or more mills. "I don't think we should be extravagant, but 1 think we should go somewhat beyond the absolute minimum, and two mills is not enough," he said. He noted that more than one-half of the state is already under a voted leeway, including in-cluding all of the larger school districts in the state. Superintendent Wrigley said the board could go as high as 10 mills, but the decision would be that of the board. He said Granite District has a 6-mill leeway. Salt Lake City, 5 mills; Jordan, 3 mills and Ogden, 2 mills. |