August 25th is R-Day

August has been here for a week. The school district has not even begun to discuss the 2011-12 budget (from which spending began a month ago) at the board table.

In 2 short weeks, we will face R-Day...Reality Day.  This is the day that most of us have been bracing for since January.   The day we finally face the grim reality of the Walker Plan.  The day that our checks reflect a reduction in take-home pay of between $250 and $500 per month. A number of residences consist of 2-teacher homes or a teacher and another affected worker. For these folks, it's the DOUBLE Walker Whammy.

The school district is proposing to raise our property taxes between 3.5 and 4%, at a time when municipalities and districts across the state are REDUCING property taxes. We always here that raising our taxes just $84 a year amounts to a large pizza per month. Sure...but that's on top of the large pizza per month from last year, and lots of large pizzas per month the year before. And now, the loss of $250-$500 per month of NET income means cutting back 25 to 50 large pizzas per month.

The school board ---our elected representatives--- will also have to come to grips with REALITY as community members start really feeling the pinch that has just been a threat looming like the Sword of Damocles for many months.  The talking is over, the cuts are here and they will be painful.

Let's make "R-Day" OUR Day.  August 22nd is the next scheduled school board meeting (after tomorrow of course).  That day will come just 3 days before many of you, perhaps the majority, will face significant reductions to your paychecks.  If it matters to you, then attend the school board meeting and let the school board know how these cuts will affect YOUR family.  Let them know that the days of wine and roses are over.

Of course the school board should also bear in mind that by the time the annual meeting (October 17th) rolls around, district residents will have had the opportunity to face the grim reality of 4 or 5 reduced paychecks. We're certain that will be fresh in their minds. Food for thought: Why is that date not on the district calendar of events?  You have to go to THIS calendar to find that out.

Let's make October 17th "R" day as well.  Let's give the school board the chance to tell administration to remove their rose-colored glasses and get the pruning shears out.  If they can cut the increase down to 1.5-2%, then attend the annual meeting and fully support the tax levy.  On the other hand, if they cannot (or will not) reduce the tax levy, then the power is yours boys and girls.  YOU are the rulers of the tax levy at the annual meeting.  YOU decide how much they get to spend.  Instead of cutting pieces of the budget (which the electors do not control) just reduce the requested tax levy by $450,000 to $900,000....the equivalent of 1 or 2% on the tax levy.

Has Prom Become the Have-Have Not Line?

Next Saturday, Sun Prairie will hold its Prom ....at the Monona Convention Center. That's right...not at our fabulous new gymnasium at the TajMah High school. We received this e-mail from a loyal reader. We think it raises some valid points. Certainly points to ponder.

We don't mean to take away the "magic" from what is supposed to be a treasured moment in time. But at the same time, most of us enjoyed the camaraderie of decorating the gym. In fact, it made the event itself mean a little bit more. Times are tough and money is tight. Seeing as Sun Prairie just opened its ginormous awe-inspiring gym, we wonder if it couldn't have been held right here in town. Safer and less expensive. And maybe it might even have fostered a little "connectedness". N'est ce pas? Here's the e-mail received

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Dear SP-EYE...
Had a discussion this week with a friend with a daughter who is a junior at SPHS. Seems that prom season is here. My memories of prom are renting a tux, driving my dad's car to take a date to dinner, and then to a dance at the high school gym. Not cheap but didn't break the bank either.

Well, prom these days has a whole new meaning. My friend told me that between the dress, limo, dinner, ticket and other costs, they are into prom for almost a thousand bucks...and that is going with a group to split some costs! Prom is held at Monona Terrace, not at the gym in the Taj Ma-high school. When I commented on the absurd costs, my friend said "I am convinced they set it up this way to keep the poor kids out." She was only being half facetious.

When we have a school system looking at hiring a "diversity" person and we ahve a community with an obvious split between the "haves" and the "have nots" I think it is truly sad that the school supports such a prom. I am sure there are many under-privileged young ladies who would love to be able to attend their high school prom; things like this only serve to deepen the cultural (and racial) divide.

I am sure the "haves" enjoy taking pictures of their kids and thinking of a NYC coming out party but, seriously, shouldn't we be supporting a more inclusive type of prom...one that makes use of the gym...or is that just a time that has come and gone and I should get over thinking that things were better the way they used to be...seems I recall my dad telling me that once...

Time To Re-evaluate Board Budget Parameters?

Yesterday's State Journal reported that overall property values over the past 12 months have declined, on average, by 0.8%. While that's encouraging news given the 4-5% decline seen last year, it still suggests problems for the 2011-12 SPASD budget.

One of the key budget parameters was to keep the mill rate increase below (gulp) 4.5%. While the McCourt's of the world will wave their hands and say that property values don't affect the budget, that's a little smoke and mirrorsy, and borders on being disingenuous. It's true that property values do not affect the budget, but property values ABSOLUTELY DO affect the mill rate. In fact, assuming no change in the tax levy, each 1% decrease in property values translates to a 1% INCREASE to the mill rate.

Since the board budget assumptions includes a property value (aka Equalized Value) increase of 0%, if Madison is taste of things to come, then we may find a similar 1% decrease in value. That means the target mill rate just climbed to 5.5%.

Yeah,yeah... we know ...the Rubenesque lady ain't singin' yet. But....it's not like there's been a huge amount of growth in the city here. Certainly nothing big enough to impact a $4B district-wide valuation. And area homes aren't exactly selling at prices that reflect a valuation increase.

That means, folks, that it's time the board got the pruning shears out.