This story describes one step in the Kabooki dance the Duluth School District must go through to set its local tax rate.
By law in the early Fall each Minnesota School District (and probably all other local governments) must decide whether to determine a limit on their taxing authority. State law sets a formula for just how high this taxing level can be based on the total value of local property. Our school board, for instance, doesn’t have to “tax to the max.” It could decide early to tax at a lower level than the maximum. This is the maximum that it can set itself without going to the voters for extra operational levies in a referendum.
It will actually set the level in December, by law, but only after holding a “truth in taxation” hearing required by law to let taxpayers beg for higher taxes or grouse about taxes being too high. The only thing the Board could do in October is to decide early not to tax at the highest level. Setting the taxes at the highest level is a bird in the hand so to speak. Getting voters to approve higher taxes in an operational levy is a bird in the bush. With luck the Board will get both the highest level of taxes that it can set and a bump up from local voters in November.
The most interesting thing in this story is the impatient tone that our new superintendent takes with the argumentative Art Johnston, “I can’t allow you to sit back and pontificate about what might happen,” Foster said. “We want to make sure we’re in the best position to meet our needs.”
Dr. Foster, of course, can’t forbid a school board member, one of his bosses, from saying anything. Its not a good sign that in less than half a year he is taking this tone with a Board member. I’m sure Johnston’s critics are high fiving but if anything its Dr. Foster who will suffer the most from his own loss of patience. Art will be around for two more years no matter what.
Among Johnston’s critics are assuredly Dr. Dixon’s old administrative cabinet who Dr. Foster still depends upon to run his new district. They have done little to earn the trust of Red Plan critics. If they have encouraged Dr. Foster to take their side it will only harm their new boss. His boss, the Board, could change radically in November and lean more toward Art Johnston’s point of view. Telling any school board member that they are “pontificating,” even when they are, is a very good way to burn bridges.
