ST. LOUIS聽鈥 Members of the board that oversees 50度灰视频 Public Schools on Tuesday moved to do something the district hasn't done since 1991: ask voters for a permanent property tax increase.
The Special Administrative Board voted over conference call to put a 75-cent property tax increase on the April 5 ballot. The measure would generate about $27.8 million annually.
According to ballot language filed with the 50度灰视频 Board of Election Commissioners, the revenue generated by the tax would go toward early childhood education, the expansion of character and alternative education options, the improvement of safety and security personnel, and more competitive salaries for teachers and staff.
The city's charter schools would receive some of this revenue in the third year of collection, based on enrollment.聽
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For several months, Superintendent Kelvin Adams has acknowledged to city teachers and staff that he and the board wanted to pay them more, but budgetary constraints weren't allowing for much in the way of raises. throughout the fall about the toll that multiple years of no raise or step increase was having on their personal lives.
As a result, teachers depart 50度灰视频 schools for other districts that pay more, causing instability in classrooms across the city.
鈥淲e are incredibly mindful of that,鈥 Adams told principals and other school staff at a training session in December. 鈥淚 and those on the board, we're going to do everything in our power to address that as quickly as we can.鈥
That month, the district hired Charlene Jones, a political science professor at Harris-Stowe State University and former district administrator, to develop, coordinate and supervise the tax campaign at a cost of $60,000. Jones was campaign manager for the district's successful 2010 Proposition S ballot question 鈥斅燼 measure that brought in $155 million to renovate school buildings. It didn't raise taxes, but instead extended the life of already existing bonds.
The 75-cent tax increase would raise property taxes an additional $142.50 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.
Doug Thaman, executive director of the Missouri Charter Public School Association, said he's met with Adams about the tax proposal. He said just like district schools, charter schools could use the funding even though the distribution formula means waiting for the money.
Charter schools are independent public schools that have no affiliation with school districts.聽This year, 35 charter schools enroll about 10,500 students. District schools enroll about 24,400.聽
As long as charter school officials feel that the funds are distributed equitably, 鈥淚 would expect our schools to be supportive of it,鈥 Thaman said.