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Be An Informed Voter |
Important Dates to Remember |
| Election Date |
Sat., March 27, 2010 |
| Early Voting Starts |
Sat., March 13, 2010 |
| Early Voting Ends |
Sat., March 20, 2010 |
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What are the propositions?
Sales Tax Proposition – A 10-year, ½ cent sales and use tax dedicated to continue providing a high-quality educational system and prepare students for a more technology-connected world, to include laptop program at WF High School and foreign language programs at elementary and middle schools.
Property Tax Proposition – A 10-year, 11-mill tax dedicated to continue to provide additional support for academic programs and activities for Pre-K through 12, to continue upgrading technology in grades Pre-K through 12 for all schools and to maintain and enhance school buildings and infrastructure. |
How will it affect me?
Increase or Additional Taxes
Homes’ assessed value at < $75,000.00 = 0
Homes’ assessed value at $100,000.00 = $ 27.50 per year
Homes’ assessed value at $200,000.00 = $137.50 per year
Homes’ assessed value at $300,000.00 = $247.50 per year |
What's the status of the school system?
Accomplishments
- Local School Board money has funded a Pre-K Program for the past twenty-five (25) years that is open to every 4 year old child in the parish at an annual cost of approximately $710,000.00.
- We have been good stewards of our funds.
- We have, for two years, continued to be academically competitive with districts that have much higher millage by supplementing out of our reserve fund balance and making other sacrifices.
- In district accountability, we rank as high or higher than districts with much higher millage.
- In 2007-2008, the School Board increased salaries so as to remain competitive with surrounding parishes in sustaining and hiring excellent educators
Financial Status
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A $2 million operating deficit resulted in school year 2008-2009 due to the poor economy, decreases in state funding, increases in unfunded mandates from the state, depreciation of the local power plant, and a major plant closure. In order to balance the budget, those funds had to be taken out of our reserve.
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To get the deficit down, in school year 2009-2010, this action was taken:
Twenty-one (21) positions were removed from the general fund, Title I fund and Idea B fund.
Of the twenty-one, fifteen (15) positions were cut; three (3) were moved to stimulus funding (this funding will go away in school year 2011- 2012) and three (3) positions held by retirees were not filled.
20% across-the-board cuts were made in all departments, except transportation and 30% in non-instructional areas. This resulted in a $1.8 million cut.
The cost for group health benefits for employees rose an additional $234,000.00.
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