The Benefits’ of Proposal 5 to Webberville Community Schools

Dr. William C. Skilling

 

If you watch television or read the newspaper, you already know that it is election time again! This year “Proposal 5” will be on the ballot and I would like to explain how it could be very beneficial to public schools and especially Webberville Community Schools. This article is informational only, in the hope that you will make an informed decision on election day, Tuesday, November 7, 2006.
Proposal 5 ensures three changes for Webberville Community Schools:

 

1. Retirement Rate - If Proposal 5 passes, Webberville Community Schools’ retirement rate will be capped at 14.87% for the current school year. We currently pay 17.74%. The immediate cost savings to the district this year would be $85,000. If the retirement rate is not capped, by 2010 Webberville Community Schools will be paying over 30% for the retirement rate.

 

2. Stability and Predictability of Future Increases for Education - If Proposal 5 passes, Webberville Community Schools will receive a minimal increase in state funding equaling inflation which includes the foundation allowance and key categorical programs. Proposal 5 assures reasonable, inflationary increases for Webberville Community Schools in the future. How much does it mean in revenue when applying the minimum inflationary rate of increase to Webberville Community Schools? Given that we had about 10% inflation over the last five-years the following chart shows how much money Webberville Community Schools lost in the last five-years by not receiving an annual inflationary increase in revenue.

Enrollment for the last five years

• 02-03: 643 = loss of $134/student = $86,162

• 03-04: 615 = loss of $271/student = $166,665

• 04-05: 633 = loss of $410/student = $259,530

• 05-06: 647 = loss of $377/student = $243,919

• 06-07: 671 = loss of $312/student = $209,352

• Total loss in revenue for 5 years = $965,628

3. Increasing Equity – Reducing the Revenue Gap Between School Districts - If Proposal 5 passes, Webberville Community Schools would receive an additional $60 per student. The lowest foundation schools receiving $7,085 per student for the 2006-2007 school year will receive a total of $300 per student or an average of $60 per student each year in addition to the other increases. The purpose is to help bring the lowest spending districts up without affecting/reducing districts which receive higher funding. The gap between the highest and the lowest funded school districts such as Webberville Community Schools is over $6,000 per student! Some school districts receive over $13,000 per student! This is not equitable. Why should a Webberville student be worth less than a student in Oakland County?

 

Proposal 5 brings assurances of a guaranteed, minimum annual increase for Webberville Community Schools; reform of the retirement system by returning the responsibility to the state; plus, it provides the most significant equity enhancement in more than a decade. Proposal 5 will not raise taxes!

 

Please remember to vote on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. If you have any questions regarding Proposal 5, please feel free to call me at 517-521-3422 ext: 101.