Proposition 1 meeting conducted; two more meetings planned

The Nevada R-5 School District hopes voters will say yes in November to maintaining a funding mechanism that's been in place for 10 years. In 1999, voters OK'd a Proposition C waiver, which allows the school district to glean all of a 1-cent sales tax. Without the voter approved waiver, half of that money must be returned to the state. The 1999 measure sunsets at the end of this year; this year's ballot issue has no sunset. Proposition 1, as the school district's ballot issue is called, also asks voters to continue an existing property tax levy. Superintendent Dr. David Stephens said they're not asking for any increases; only voter approval to maintain what's now in place.

Stephens explained that in 1999, many districts asked voters for just such a waiver, but most of them secured a permanent waiver, so that's what the district is now hoping voters will approve.

Stephens said school districts are feeling the pinch from a struggling economy and a loss of the money the schools receive through the Prop C waiver would be significant.

That money goes into a fund specifically for teacher salaries -- to the tune of about $2 million per year in the R-5 schools, Stephens said.

The tax levy portion of Proposition 1 currently brings about $200,000 into the district, and is used for operational expenses; frequently for such things as building construction and repair.

A Proposition 1 informational meeting was held in September, and another was held last night in the commons at Nevada High School. Similar meetings are slated for 6 p.m., Oct. 14, in the Nevada High School auditorium and 6:30 p.m., Oct. 27, in the Nevada High School auditorium.