R-5 district faces deep budget deficit; issues plea for help from the voters

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

"We'll be facing massive cuts," if little or no additional funds come to the district, Nevada R-5 Superintendent Ted Davis said.

He pulled no punches as he outlined the school districts budgetary outlook if nothing is done to replace the funds lost through the state's budget crunch as he spoke to a group during a Rotary luncheon on Thursday.

There'll be a loss of "programs and people. Eighty-seven percent of our programs are the people," Davis said.

During the past few years, school board members have cut a few programs and trimmed fat, eliminating some jobs along the way -- but if the budget shortfalls continue, there'll be little choice but to cut into programs and to reduce the size of the staff.

"The state is shifting the burden to the local districts," said board member Dr. Warren Lovinger, so it's up to the district's patrons to support the level of education provided.

"The children are the single most important thing in this community, and education is the best thing that we can do for them," Lovinger said.

This year's budget is approaching $1.4 million in the red. In a budget of nearly 19 million, that's almost six percent of the budget.

The primary culprit, Davis said, is the state's funding formula for schools, and the money available to support it.

Each district's tax levy plays into that formula, with money allotted, in part, according to how much local funding is available. Dozens of districts have increased levies since the state began experiencing serious budget shortfalls that struck school budgets last year, causing an additional shift in funding away from those districts in which voters did not approve increased funding.

Local dollars pay off, he noted, to the tune of about $2 provided by the state for each local dollar. "It's a great investment," he said.

Davis said some suggest cutting programs like sports and other extracurricular activities, but doing so won't save much money -- an estimated $150,000 or so -- and such programs have a far greater value than the money spent on them, in many cases.

"These things are the reason some kids stay in school. They can see their accomplishments in band or in debate or in sports. It helps them to succeed," Davis said.

In an effort to trim the budget, 16 teaching positions and 18 other positions were cut. Employee benefits were reduced, debt was refinanced to save money, utility costs were cut through an energy performance project, and a three-year freeze was put on technology spending.

Class sizes have been increased in some upper grades, and sweeping changes were made to save money on an at-risk program. But in order to avoid further cuts, the district is seeking a 39-cent tax levy increase. Tax payers with a home assessed at $40,000 would pay $29.64.

According to informational materials provided by the Nevada R-5 Board of Education, such an increase would mean about $1.5 million to the district when the $500,000 the tax would generate is combined with state funds that would shift into Nevada R-5's coffers.

In Gov. Matt Blunt's State of the State address, he outlined a plan to allocate more funds to elementary and secondary education, but admits the plan still won't fully fund the state's formula.

Asked what the district would do if more funds are received than expected, Davis said there'd be a rollback to reduce the tax levy.

The proposed tax would also expire in four years, reverting back to the current level.

There's value in maintaining high standards in education, because it gives the community a source of pride and because it's an important economic development tool.

Joe Kraft, a Nevada resident, said he supports the tax increase, because people of his generation have had children or grandchildren in the schools, and they want a good education for them and a good education for other children. as several World War II era veterans nodded in agreement.

Lovinger, along with school board president Chris Ellis, urged patrons to cast votes in support, whether at the polls on Feb. 8 or absentee, prior to election day.

Christine Moore, a Nevada R-5 patron, said voters in her family have already cast their ballots absentee, since they plan to be out of town on election day.

Absentee ballots for the Feb. 8 Nevada R-5 school election are available at the Vernon County Clerk's Office in the Vernon County Courthouse.

Registered voters may request an application for an absentee mail-out ballot by calling the clerk's office at (417) 448-2500.

The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Feb. 2.