On Tuesday night, the Annual Meeting and Budget Hearing was held, for the 2022-2023 Sparta Area School District year. Held in the cafetorium, at Meadowview Middle School; it would be a three-hour meeting, to the minute. Many tax-paying citizens stood up and voiced their thoughts and feelings on the setting of the Mill Rate for homeowners across the district. The proposed Mill Rate is 7.49, by the Sparta School District. This is lower than last year’s Mill Rate, but will still increase what electorates will have to pay. While the debate was kept calm, tensions were high, centering around the unprecedented financial times that everyone is experiencing.
Sam Russ, Superintendent of the Sparta Area School District, stood up before the meeting and thoroughly explained the rules and procedures that would be followed for the meeting. Items he mentioned included how to come forward and speak, stating that no one should speak on more than two topics at a time, so that everyone could be heard that wanted to express their thoughts and opinions.
In the meeting, anyone who was an electorate within the district could be nominated for the chair position, and if they were willing, could chair the budget hearing. Gary Asher nominated John Hendricks, and Hendricks accepted. Hendricks would receive 18 votes, falling 6 shy of the 24 votes that Anthony Scholze, current school board president, collected in the-show-of-hands vote.
Scholze brought the meeting to order, then Sam Russ read a message from the superintendent. The next 50 minutes would see Leah Hauser, Director of Business Services, in the spotlight. Hauser went on to read the treasurer’s report, in detail, as it was through June of 2022. Upon completion of the report, she flowed effortlessly into the presentation of the 2022-2023 budget. Hauser never missed a beat, covering everything in her overview, from the different fund types within the district, to their uses and functions. All funds must account for their own assets, liabilities, revenue and expenditures and are considered their own accounting entity, requiring their own set of books. Hauser took her time and explained everything, in detail, to those in attendance, while the attendees themselves followed along, in a well-prepared booklet.
Upon the budget being fully explained, electorates in attendance were allowed to speak, offering up both facts and opinions to support their ideas. Gary Ascher was halfway to the podium when speakers were told they could come down and address the electorate attendees. Ascher talked about the fund balance surplus being at 24%, when written board policy dictates that it stay around 15%. He added that last year they added $916,840, which had brought the percentage to 24. “At some point, enough is enough,” stated Asher. “You (school district) are a taxing entity. The only way you make money is to take it from people. You are building these surpluses by overtaxing people and taking more than you need. A surplus, by definition, is more than you need. These are unprecedented times, with inflation hitting 40 percent. People need to see a real tax break.”
Ascher then shared some real-life stories about the current state of the economy. “I work with a food pantry and in one day, 26 families came in, so that they could feed their families. They are mainly families and senior citizens. The Amish freeze meet, right before it spoils, then they sell it at a reduced rate. The number of Seniors showing up would shock you. Then they buy expired food at the Amish store because they cannot afford to go to a regular grocery store.” Ascher then went on to purpose a levy of 6.13.
Stacey Weber, a concerned electorate, came in on the heels of Ascher. Weber said that she agreed with much of what Ascher had said. She then went on to add something that would keep coming up throughout the night, from other speakers: why are we paying off the debt for Herrman Elementary faster than the voted upon terms? “This year alone you have paid 4.7 million more off than you needed too,” Weber stated. “This was not the agreed upon rate. It is supposed to paid off over a twenty-year period.”
Gary Ascher came back up to the podium and slid the podium sideways, dragging it to a point about three feet away and turning it to face those in attendance, rather than the four folks seated on stage. “Why are we facing you, when we should be facing those who showed up to hear what we have to say,” Ascher exclaimed. Tensions were increasing, and it was no secret to those in attendance.
Many other speakers came up and expressed their viewpoints. Tim Ackerman questioned the balance of state aid versus paying off the debt early. Marla Leverich came up to speak several times, mainly looking for clarification on several items within the budget. Alice Ackerman questioned the monies paid for the laser etching of the Spartan logo in the gym. “Why are we not involving the students in the art of their own school?” Then Alice went on to explain that when she was in school, kids were involved in all of the art for the school.
Pat McKenna, school board director, came up and spoke on transparency and having everything out in the open. He stated that he would want what is best for the community. Dan Stone, concerned electorate, wanted to know why the school district was not taking advantage of the low interest rate on the Herrman Elementary loan, in times when such a low percentage is now unattainable. “So, we pay that low interest loan off early, then we fall off a cliff and bury ourselves with a high interest rate on the next project?,” Stone queried.
When the speakers had finished, proposals were taken and voted on by a show of hands from the attending electorate. Gary Ascher made a motion for the first proposal, at $7, and the motion was seconded by Marla Leverich. This was voted down with only 16 votes yay. Mike Roddick, Sparta Area School District staff, then made a proposal for the school board recommended rate of 7.49, it was seconded, and voted into record, with 36 yays and 16 nays.
“This is just a recommendation,” Sam Russ stated. “The board will take action on this, on October 25th in this room, at 7 p.m.
Mr. Bullen stood up and stated that all the school district staff members that were in attendance voted for the 7.49 percent, and that there was just over 60 people total at the meeting, thus giving themselves the vote advantage, as well as the benefit of the higher Mill Rate. His point was that more community members need to get to these meetings and participate, if they do not want to see their taxes being increased.
The meeting adjourned at 10 p.m.
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