By using proceeds from the 2 most recent "better schools referendum," is the Minneapolis School district actually in compliance with the law that authorizes special property tax hikes?
128D.11 School district bonds. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/128D/11.html "Subd. 5. Use of proceeds. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds shall be used only for the rehabilitating, remodeling, expanding, and equipping of existing school buildings and for the acquisition of sites, construction, and equipping of new school buildings, and for acquisition and betterment purposes." Proceeds from the first bond sales for class size reduction were used, in part, to build satellite buildings to facilitate class size reduction. But proceeds from bond sales authorized by the more recent "better schools referendums" were dedicated exclusively to the district's operating budget in order to "keep class sizes small." Class sizes were drastically cut soon after voters approved the last referendum. Money obtained from regular property tax assessments should cover most capital expenditures, student transportation, and part of the district's operating budget. If I am correctly interpreting MN statute 128D.11, subd 5, special property tax assessments should only be used for capital expenditures. It is my understanding that district has a lot of discretion in how it spends the basic per pupil allotment from state. Not so with other funds from the state and federal gov't. -Doug Mann, King Field REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
