Educational funding has not kept up with inflation over the past 20 plus years. Over that same period of time, seasonal recreation property owners were removed from the operating levy tax rolls and placed on the general tax rolls. This meant that local property tax payers and business owners were going to have to pay more if an operating levy vote was successful. This made it much more difficult for these districts, like Brainerd’s, to pass an operating levy. This also created a wider financial disparity between school districts. There is a bill in the state Legislature to help correct these financial inequities for districts that have a high percent of seasonal recreational property and are unable to pass an operating levy. The bipartisan bill (HF 1161/GOP Representative Igo; SF 1197/DFL Senator Hauschild) is the Seasonal & Recreational Tax Base Replacement Aid bill. The bill doesn’t change how cabins are taxed. The state would assist in lowering the cost of a voter approved levy through a formula based on how much seasonal property is in the school district. For districts that have an operating levy, this bill would likely mean a modest property tax relief for residents and business owners.
This bill could greatly help our Brainerd School District, if passed. Each of us can contact our local state representative and senator and ask them to become co-authors on this bipartisan bill. Also ask them to support passage of the bill when it comes up for a vote. All Minnesota children deserve equalized funding rather than funding inequities. Our children are our future. The education we provide them in every corner of the state is the best investment we can make. Our children are counting on us, so let’s get it done.
John Ward
Brainerd School Board member
Baxter
Want to submit a letter to the editor?
.