Cape board neutral on referendum reform legislation

The Cape school board voted 3-3 May 9 on a resolution to oppose a bill that would enable school districts to raise taxes for operating expenses without going to referendum. As a result, Cape will neither support nor oppose the measure.

Cape Superintendent Bob Fulton said House Bill 129 would allow school districts to raise taxes up to 2 percent per year to meet operating expenses without going to voters for approval. New schools would still need to be approved through referendum.

Board member Andy Lewis motioned to oppose the bill; Jason Bradley seconded. President Alison Myers, Julie Derrick and Jessica Tyndall voted to support Lewis’ motion.

Board member Janis Hanwell said she thought superintendents and boards should have the option to raise taxes.

“We already have the ability to raise taxes without going to referendum with the Match Tax,” she said. “This district has never abused it.”

The Match Tax allows districts to raise taxes for certain programs including minor capital improvements, technology, extra-time programs, and reading and math resource teachers. In some cases, the state mandates a local match; in other cases, the local match is optional.

Fulton said it would always be better to go through a referendum and get buy-in from the community. But, he said, at some point the district may need to raise taxes to meet operating expenses.

Lewis objected, “If you get to that point, you will have elections based on whether you’re going to raise taxes without going to referendum, not necessarily on what’s best for kids.”

Hanwell said people have already run on that platform. “Our community votes for board members who do what’s best for kids. If a candidate came forward and that was their primary platform, I don’t think this community would believe that person was in it to do what’s best for kids.”

Myers said there was a false sense the bill would eliminate the need for operating expense referendums.

“If most districts look at the annual increase in their personnel costs, just by keeping the teachers you already have who are increasing their years of experience, I don’t know that 2 percent covers that yearly increase for some districts,” she said.

After further discussion, Lewis, Bradley and Myers voted to oppose the bill, and Hanwell, Derrick and Tyndall voted against opposing it.