Nevada R-5 to ask voters for Prop C waiver, tax levy extension

Ten years ago, voters approved a measure waiving the Proposition C rollback. Under Proposition C, half of a Missouri 1-cent sales tax now going to schools, is returned to the voters unless voters OK a waiver allows districts to keep that funding.

Nevada R-5 superintendent Dr. David Stephens explained that in 1999, many districts asked voters for just such a waiver, but most of them secured a permanent waiver. The measure OK'd by voters in the R-5 district sunsets this year, and the district is now hoping voters will make the waiver permanent.

Voters also OK'd a property tax levy in 1999, which the district also hopes voters will continue.

"We're not asking people to pay any more than they are. We are just asking them to maintain it where it is," said Stephens.

Both the Proposition C waiver and levy would remain the same as they are now, and both appear on the same ballot issue, called Proposition 1.

Stephens said school districts are feeling the pinch from a struggling economy and a loss of the money the schools receive through the Prop C waiver would be significant.

That money goes into a fund specifically for teacher salaries -- to the tune of about $2 million per year in the R-5 schools, Stephens said.

"It stands to reason that if we do not get this, it could result in personnel cuts, but not necessary. There are other things you can do. It would definitely result in some cutbacks," he said, but whether that would mean personnel or program cuts, or some other option such as freezing salaries hasn't been explored in depth, so far.

The tax levy portion of Proposition 1 currently brings about $200,000 into the district, and is used for operational expenses; frequently for such things as building construction and repair.

Board of Education member Larry Forkner said that improvements voters expected have been completed, but, for example, a boiler had to be replaced. "There always seems to be a need."

The sunset of the 1999 voter-approved rollback and levy comes at a time when the district -- like everyone else -- is feeling the pressure on its pocketbook from a slumping economy.

For the past few years -- since 2007, Stephens said -- the district's income has leveled off, while its expenses have continued to increase. This year, income has dropped somewhat, exacerbating the problem.

The district currently has a hiring freeze in place, and hasn't filled some positions that "really ought to be." Some new hiring has taken place, but those are temporary positions in specialty areas that have received temporary stimulus funding through 2011. "Those people were told up front this is a temporary positions," in special education and other specialized areas. The temporary help will enable permanent staffers to focus more on additional skills development.

Stephens noted that the state's funding formula also is fully funded, for now, due to stimulus funding, but in two years that also will expire, and the state funding could be reduced as well.

"This is the first year in 10 years we didn't increase the salary schedule," Stephens said, meaning that cost of living increases weren't added this year -- further measures relating to salaries are something Stephens doesn't want to face.

Materials provided by the district indicate that economic forecasters believe "district revenues will continue to decrease over the next three years.

One patron attended Wednesday's meeting; but there are three more opportunities for patrons to hear details relating to Proposition 1: Oct 8, at 6:30 p.m., in the Nevada High School commons; Oct. 14, at 6 p.m., in the Nevada High School auditorium; and Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m., in the Nevada High School auditorium. Without approval of Proposition 1 in the November election, the waiver in place will expire Dec. 31, 2009.