Sixty-one votes could end up costing the Oxford school district $5 million per year.
The district suffered a narrow defeat at the ballot box in the Aug. 2 primary election.
Oxford’s request for a 10-year, 18.4442-mill operating tax on all non-homestead property in the district beginning in July 2017 failed 1,984 to 1,923. The proposal was a renewal and an increase rolled into one.
“I’m disappointed,” said Superintendent Tim Throne. “Obviously, either we didn’t communicate well enough or the voters spoke their mind. There’s not much to argue about that.”
“I’ve got to look at myself first and foremost,” he continued. “What could I do better? What could I have done more of? We put things out on our website, our Facebook (page), we put stuff in our quarterly review, we did some articles in the newspaper.
“I felt like we got our message out. We tried to explain it as well as we could. And either we didn’t communicate it as well as we could or people didn’t feel like it was important enough to vote for. But it is what it is. Those are the rules we live by.”
Throne noted he’s disappointed more people didn’t vote in this election.
The school district is comprised of portions of six townships in two counties.
In Oakland County, voters in Oxford, Addison and Brandon townships failed the millage proposal 1,905 to 1,865.
In neighboring Lapeer County, voters in Metamora and Dryden townships rejected it 79 to 58. Nobody voted either way on the proposal in Hadley Township.
The current non-homestead operating tax of 17.8078 mills expires with this year’s July and December property tax bills.
State law allows districts to levy up to 18 mills on non-homestead properties, which include businesses, commercial and industrial properties, second homes, vacation homes, rental properties and vacant land not adjacent to an owner’s homestead property. Exempt from the operating tax are principal residential (homestead) and qualified agricultural properties.
If the district’s proposal had been approved, no more than 18 mills could have been legally levied. School officials set the request at 18.4442 mills a few months ago because at the time the ballot language was submitted, the rollback required by the Headlee Amendment had not yet been calculated for this year. Officials requested this rate in an attempt to begin levying the tax at the full 18 mills next year had voters approved it.
Oxford voters first approved the 18-mill tax in 1996, then renewed it in 2006. Rollbacks required by the Headlee Amendment reduced it to its present rate.
The loss of the operating tax means the district will lose approximately $5 million in revenue annually beginning next year.
“This (millage loss) impacts our 2017-18 school year and beyond,” explained Sam Barna, assistant superintendent of business and operations. “After December (2016), we cannot levy (the non-homestead operating millage) until this is passed (by voters).”
“Realistically, we’d probably have to shut down a school, move kids to other buildings,” Throne said. “We’d have to eliminate arts, athletics, cut transportation down . . . We’d have to make major cuts. It is what it is.”
The state would not make up this lost $5 million.
Part of Michigan’s system for funding schools is based on the premise that districts are collecting the full 18 mills every year, even if they aren’t. This amount is then deducted from the per-pupil foundation allowance each district receives from Lansing.
“At some point,” Throne said the district is going to have to put this proposal back on the ballot and give it another shot.
“I guess we’ll regroup and try to communicate it again,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of placing it on the Nov. 8 ballot, Throne, on the night of the election, replied, “I don’t know. I think I want to sit tight at least for a little bit and get input from the public in general, get their feelings on it.”
“It’s not going to be an overnight impact,” the superintendent noted. “Obviously, that’s huge. It gives us some time to look at what we’re doing, what we’re communicating and what does the community want . . . (It’s) definitely time to sit back, reflect, learn and figure out what our next steps are.”
The day after the election, the school district emailed this message to parents — “The impact of the Non-Homestead Millage Renewal being voted down in the primary election yesterday (August 2, 2016) will not have an immediate effect on the current school year (2016-17). However, as it stands, the non-passage of the renewal will greatly impact the 2017-2018 school year. The Non-Homestead Millage is currently valued at approximately $5,100,000, representing about 10% of our current operating budget.
“As of today, Oxford Schools has begun the process of investigating when the Non-Homestead Millage Renewal can be placed back on the ballot, including the November 8, 2016 general election.”
School district’s operating millage proposal fails by 61 votes added by CJ Carnacchio on
View all posts by CJ Carnacchio →
Maybe if you had put 17.8 mills up rather than 18.4 it would have passed, I know it would have changed my vote.
Yes, the school operating millage failed but this is an opportunity, not a failure!
The citizens have sent a message to the district – we are fed up with being in the dark and being forced to listen to their unsubstantiated propaganda about the merits of specialized programs that promise the pot of gold and instead pick the pockets of the community.
First and foremost please understand that this WILL be back on the November ballet and we need to take a stand and tell the district that it is time to:
OPEN THE BOOKS
FOCUS ON THE DISTRICT STUDENTS
AND START OPENLY COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC
— Iff this does not pass in November it is because of their arrogance and failure to respect the communities needs
— If does not pass in November the first cuts will be to your salaries, benefits and perks Mr. Throne and those of your team of Administrators who facilitate the district’s actions!
— Your refusal to provide accurate and accountable bookkeeping and back up your claims of benefits to local students will not be accepted, just because you say so
Mr. Throne and the Board of Education, it is time for you to serve the people who have put you in your position. Do your duty!
Repeated requests for information, including OVA have been ignored or met with unreasonable fees. OVA had expenses of over $360,000 in renovations, network, furniture, etc. This is for LAST year and they just moved again but we can’t obtain the figures yet. This is for less than 260 students that shouldn’t need a building if they’re virtual. This is just the latest move, having moved many times in as many years. Each time involves new furniture, renovation, leases legal work, etc. We’re asking for an accounting since I personally don’t understand how the OCS can make a profit with renovations rather annually, a declining OVA student base and having to fund outside interests such as art, karate, etc. This is but one of the questionable programs. Transparency, accountability, responsibility, protect our students and their education and show the community you care.
I agree with M Scott above in that the district should have requested a renewal – not an increase in the rate at this time. My family, too, would have reconsidered our votes. That would have closed the gap a bit – and I’m sure we’re not alone.
Although it was a relatively small increase (+3.5%), much of this increase would have been passed along to the local residents even if not assessed on “homesteaded” property. The people eagerly supporting an increase in taxes on local business, etc. fail to realize that the operating margins for local small businesses are generally fairly small. As taxes on local restaurants and businesses increase – the increase gets passed on to the residents in higher food bills, doctor’s office visits, more expensive merchandise, etc. Once again, while stated as not impacting the homesteaded property owners directly, it most certainly would, although through a more circuitous route.
Without the transparency and accountability necessary from the school district, how can we be reassured that the money is being spent wisely? The district administrators need to understand that they are spending OUR money, not theirs. They are not “entitled” to the tax dollars, rather they need to have the mindset of ‘how can they deliver the most bang for the bucks they do receive’? As a parent of 4 kids, I can attest to the fact that too much time is wasted in the classroom and not enough time is spent on actual instruction. If I had a dollar for every time my kids have come home talking about how they “watched another movie in class,” I could probably fund the shortfall myself!
School administrators are eager to find the next “new way” to educate – making our kids the guinea pigs until another “new” program comes along. But don’t worry – there is a lot of research and a whole new curriculum that supports it! I many not have all the degrees and certifications behind my name but I can tell you that as more “innovative” approaches have been undertaken, we only continue to see a downward spiral in overall student performance – which can only be cured with more money and new programs!
Sometimes a more classical, traditional approach is better. Just look at what Hillsdale College is doing through their Barney Charter School Initiative. They have not adopted the Common Core curriculum but instead have embraced a classical approach to teaching – and the students that are educated through this program on average far EXCEED those taught to the Common Core benchmarks. It requires a new mindset for administrators and teachers alike – and undoubtedly many would NOT embrace the rigorous requirements for the teachers. But it works, and isn’t that ultimately the goal of our schools, to turn out the best educated, well-rounded students possible to engage the world?
I have taught in the Oxford School District for close to twenty years. It is a district with hard working and dedicated teachers. They work hard during the school day and often stay after. They attend professional development and take courses to stay up to date on what is best for students. They participate in school functions. They help families in need when they don’t have shoes to wear or food to eat. Teachers support our students and their families. To suggest that we are unwilling to embrace rigorous requirements is an inaccurate and untrue statement. We are required to teach to the standards. They are rigorous and challenging. We rarely play movies and if we do, they are educationally based. If you are unhappy with Common Core, I would suggest bringing that up with your state legislators. That is not something we have any control over. And you mention charter schools, well, guess what happens to students with learning disabilities or special needs in those charter schools, many of them end up back in our public schools where we are able to provide the services they need. If you want to know what is going on with your tax dollars, attend School Board meetings and view the transparency reporting on the Oxford Schools website. And there is always the option of running for the school board if you want to have a voice on decisions that impact our students.
With very little transparency in the spending of OUR monies, you want us to blindly follow you….again???
Well, we see how well that worked when the community BLINDLY followed the then Administration (some of which still remain) who BLINDLY followed Skilling down the path that spiraled this district downward.
And now, you want us to do it again when you have shown nothing but resistance, deceit, deflection, no transparency and an unwillingness to provide information to a group of concerned residents unless they pay outrageous fees when it should be readily available?
Yea, right.
What are you guys really trying to hide and pull the wool over our eyes about…again?
Instead of threatening school closures, cuts in the arts, athletics and transportation….perhaps you should look at the waste “at the top” (perks, expenditures), get your priorities straight, cut programs that only benefit a select few and put OUR kids FIRST!!!
For years, this district has shown nothing but fiscal irresponsibility, misplaced priorities and adopted the “we’re accountable to no one” mentality…. and until things change, I will keep voting “NO”!
I wholeheartedly agree with the Concerned Teacher who accurately portrays the vast majority of teachers in our district.
I for one have a rental property in the are and have no kids in the schoold district. Why should I pay for your kids to be educated. Get off your high horse teachers your job is not that hard in Oxford and you know it. Go teach in Detroit Public schools and I allow you sympathy.
I have heard what you say about not having kids in the district for years. Well, good luck, Lou with renting your property if Oxford has to close schools and pack 40-50 in a classroom. I doubt families would be interested in your rental property under those circumstances. Good quality schools with reasonable class sizes draw families to particular areas. I doubt you have been in too many classrooms in Oxford so I question how you would know that teachers are on their high horses. The profession is not easy, but it is certainly rewarding.
I have two rentals with no kids in the district. We vote it down again!
This is one of the many ways that the district is doing their best on a DAILY basis in the interest of our children, our families, and our community. The illusion that the district just throws money all over the place with little regard to who it supports and the impact it has on this community is a misguided fabrication. There is ALWAYS a way to do better. I’d like to think that the district is working toward that goal. That being said, it is a two-way street. There also needs to be a degree of understanding of the growth process involved. This district has grown exponentially in programming and rigor over the last 5-10 years. Growth like that comes with bumps along the way. Go Wildcats!
“This $7 million, combined with the approximate savings of $8.4 million from previous 2015 Refunded Bonds, means the district has saved about $15.4 million in interest expense since 2015, according to Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Sam Barna.”
https://oxfordleader.com/?p=74614