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Voter approval of ticket prices to games? Support for teacher pension payments? Budget cuts eliminating textbook purchases? Or plenty of money for schools because voters love their children and will support schools?
These are just a few of the possible scenarios that voters face as they head to the polls on Nov. 3. The only thing that is certain is that if CI-75 passes, no one is quite sure what will happen.
CI-75 would require voter approval of any new or increased tax imposed by the state or local governments or school districts. CI-75 also would limits the number of tax votes to one per year, to be held at primary or general election time.
“It would be a disaster to public schools,” said Kalispell Education Association representative Geoff Hughes. “For any acquisition of equipment or innovative ideas you would have to think that (funding) would not pass.”
School District 5 has an operating budget of $9,775,020, $3,030,444 of which is approved by taxpayers. To pay for transportation and for tuition to place children in private care facilities — whether for substance abuse, learning disorders or anything the district is not capable of handling — District 5 simply passes a permissive levy, which is not voted on by tax payers. During the ‘97-’98 school year the district needed $165,306 in permissive levies. Under CI-75 voters would have to approve all such spending.
“By putting a vote on taxes up every time we hamstring the government,” said band director Allen Slater. “Voter turnout is so apathetic that the majority isn’t always represented.”
Supporters of CI-75 claim that by giving taxpayers more control over the taxes they pay, governments will be forced to become more efficient. They also claim that it levels the playing field for schools, which already have to seek voter approval for tax revenue.
“Since taxpayers have no voice in state tax increases they take their frustrations out on school and county funding,” said the bill’s author, Joseph R. Balyeat of Montanans for Better Government. “In states where tax increases have been put to a vote, voters pass more of school and county taxes and less state taxes.”
But no one is really sure what effects CI-75 would have on school finances and the quality of education. Said District 5 business manager Todd Watkins: “It’s going to be complicated, no doubt about it.” |
