Live blog from forum tonight
November 27th, 2007 by 
Alica
I am going to attempt to blog live from the school bond public forum tonight. (I’ll be using a borrowed laptop, so I hope it all works.) The forum will be held at the Valley Springs Elementary band room, beginning at 8 p.m. It should last about an hour.
I will post the questions and comments from the audience. If you post to the blog during the meeting, I’ll attempt to get answers to any questions you have also.
I’ll blog under this heading, so watch this thread beginning at 8 p.m.
Posted in Uncategorized | 
November 27th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
8:10 p.m.
It took me a while to figure out how to work this laptop. But I’m hooked up now.
Building committee member Tom Kelley opened the forum, just like he did last night, explaining the three aspects of the project: new grade school, additions to the high schoool, and a new, three-court gym with related areas.
Now Brandon Valley district manager Paul Lundberg is telling folks how the project would be paid for — how the bond would work.
There are about 32 people here.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
8:18 p.m.
Paul is now talking about the operational costs for running the facilities once they are built. Heat, light, custodians. He says it will cost about $3 to $3.50 per square foot to operate the buildings.
He said the school board has been saving up for two years to be able to pay operational costs once the buildings would open up.
Now he is opening it up for questions.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Harold Arnott asked if the school district is still paying on the Robert Bennis Elementary bond. Paul said yes, that bond was issued in 2001 and will go to 2020 or 2021.
The middle school bond will be paid off in 2011.
He said also that in the future, as the district continues to grow, the district will probably have to build even more facilities.
In reponse to another question, Paul said that as the district grows, especially the business sector, “that’s going to be a big boom to the Brandon Valley School District” as the businesses will pay a lot of property taxes, making the burden on residential properties less.
But he stressed that the district can’t count on that money or build it into the budget now. It can’t count that money until the businesses open.
Superintendent Pappone said he wanted to remind people that when there is commercial growth, that brings tax money into the district without adding more children.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
8:24 p.m.
Don Johnson asked if the district would get $6 million worth of education out of a new triple gym. He said why not forego building the activity center and build a new elementary school in Valley Springs for that money.
Randy Marso, the district activities director, said the activity center is needed.
Lundberg said part of the project is to make improvements at Valley Springs Elementary, $250,000 worth.
A woman asks if those improvements would be made if the bond issue doesn’t pass.
Paul said Valley Springs Elementary projects, such as on the boiler room, would be put in the list of capital improvement projects and would be prioritized along with other projects on that list.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
8:31 p.m.
Paul Lundberg is talking about how much a new gym would be used. With the many varsity and junior varsity sports Brandon Valley offers, there is a lot of practicing that needs to go on. right now, the sports practice real early in the morning, into the evening, making a long day for a lot of kids.
Tom Kelley said there is only this chance to build the new gym big enough. He said the district has to plan for growth and make sure the gym areas, or activity center, is big enough in the coming years.
They’re breaking up the formal presentations now and letting people talk individually. I see at least four school board members here, plus the project architect, the bond consultant that would help the school sell the bonds, and several of the building committee members.
People are mingling now.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
8:54 p.m.
Well, folks are visitng now. I hear laughing and such. And the room is clearing out.
Remember, there will be one more forum, on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Split Rock Fire Hall.
And remember to vote on Dec. 4. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you can’t make it to vote next Tuesday, you can pick up an absentee vote at the district office.
I’ll never forget a saying I once heard: Government is run by the people who show up. So show up and vote next Tuesday.
November 28th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Alica,
Thanks for the live blog. It doesn’t look good with blogger participation, but it was the first time. Keep trying!
I think this proposal may be a little too ambitious, I’d like to see them pair it down and bring it back.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:35 am
citiizen says - What is ambitious?
November 28th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Meaning…the plan is too much at one time, too many dollars.
November 28th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Question, Paul stated that as the city grows so will the tax revenue which goes to lessen the tax burden to the citizens. Sorry folks I’ve lived here 30 years and the tax burden has steadily risen. The mil levy is raised to pay a bond issue, when the bond issue is paid should not the mill levy decrease????????? Or as fact has it the revenue continues to be collected and it goes to the general fund.
I agree with you citezen!
November 28th, 2007 at 10:24 am
In reference to question #2 above. How does that work to “save up” for operational costs? In my household we “save” for one time expenses (building) and “budget” for on-going expenses (utilities, etc.). Also, how about paying for all of the teachers/staff added? Has the district also “saved” for that on-going expense?
November 28th, 2007 at 10:55 am
I believe perhaps it is in the same realm as my comment, the previous bond issues have been paid but the levy is not lowered so the additional revenue is save into the general fund, on going all the time, no releif for the tax payers. Same game as once I’ve got you used to paying you’ll never notice when its paid for and just keep giving.
November 28th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
“Always listening” is simply wrong about the school levies. According to the school budget posted on the district website, the levy rate actually has been decreasing–it went down 57 cents per thousand this year on owner occupied property which is about 5.7% decrease in rate. We also pay less in actual dollars for school taxes now than we did 10 years ago. Take a look at your tax statement to verify how your school taxes have trended over time. The school cannot just keep taxing for a bond after it is paid and put the money in the general fund. Always Listening is wrong on that count too.
November 28th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
If you are sure Anonymous, okay, sure doesn’t seem that way. If your sure then my question is how does the general fund keep growing when the school should be budgeting for the exspences it needs for the operation from year to year? Our school always seems to have the general fund to fall back on to the tune of millions!
November 28th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I certainly don’t claim to know everything about the school’s budget, but you can learn a lot by looking at the budget presentation posted on the website under Business Office. It shows the general fund reserve to be relatively constant over the last few years. It did go up some last year, probably the budgeting for opening of new buildings showing up. But still, on a $23M budget having a few month’s expenses in reserve seems like good business. Without the reserve, wouldn’t the district have to borrow money and pay interest between tax times? I trust Paul Lundberg the business manager at the school and believe we have one of the best run schools around.
November 28th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I can not find any specific references to Bond Issues via Google, but I do not believe that a school, city, county, or the state can not continue to collect monies after a bond issues is paid off. Also, I believe that monies from a bond issue can only be used for capital improvements and not operational expenses.
Another point, that if the number of students increases does not the school receive more monies through the state school aid formula, more children usually means more monies from the state, these monies are for the operational expenses of the schools, principally teachers salaries. Also it should mean more federal dollars in the form of grants to the school for special ed and the such.
November 28th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Sorry, I meant that they can not continue to collect the monies.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Roger and Anonymous,
Once a bond (debt) is paid off the municpality (school) does not continue to collect taxes and redistribute the money. But, usually this is over a 20-30 year period where additional funding needs are experienced which in turn seems like our taxes never go down. It is the circle of life.
State funding DOES increase with your head count. That number is determined by what the state calls average daily attendance. The school reports a total head count to the state which the funding then is calculated based on that daily attendance number. Federal money does not always also follow increased attendance. It depends on many other factors. BVSD does not get very much Federal money in relationship to the whole budget picture. You are right the lions share of General Fund goes to cover labor costs. Labor costs are bus drivers , cooks , administration, custodians, teachers(the largest # of employees), and operational employees.
Paul (the top business manager in the state) Lundberg does a great job of FORCASTING future needs and costs. He urges the school board to budget money in reserves to always get a school up and running operationally. Harrisburg built schools but forgot to have money to pay for the operation expenses (staff, lights, utilities , new desks , and other equipment) to get the year started. Paul also maintains a certain amount of reserves to BASICALLY budget the incoming revenue(taxes) so the district does not have to borrow money to pay their bills before the next state tax alloaction comes in. He has / is maitaining very good cash level to achieve that goal but not too much so he is stock piling OUR tax dollars. Tri- Valley has cash reserves floating around the 45-50% range (pay a penalty to state every year for those high levels) versus BVSD hovering around 22%.
Finally, please consider SUPPORTING the upcoming school bond election. This is a well thought out plan with no real fluff built in. It is our responsibilty as citizens of the US to educate our children. We will spend the tax $$$ somewhere anyway (building onto the Minnehaha court house to house more judges to have more future prisoners - NOT CHEAP) I would rather spend MY tax dollars educating our children.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:56 am
sorry Todd