Francis Howell Approves Revised Tax Rate

The tax rate for the Francis Howell Board of Education is changing. Again.

Nearly two weeks after the Board of Education approved the new rate that would impact fiscal year 2012, a for Wednesday night to reconsider the rate.

By a 4-3 vote, the Board voted to amend the previously-approved tax rate and approve a new rate of $5.1352.

Johnson brought the motion for the amendment forward to change the rate and received a second from Hoehn. Board members Cynthia Bice, Amy McEvoy, Marty Hoditis opposed the new lower rate. Board President Mike Sommer, Board Vice President Steve Johnson and Board Treasurer Mike Hoehn and Board member Mark Lafata were for the lower rate.

The rate is up from the 2010 rate of $5.0008. the Board passed a rate of $5.1852 with a 4-3 vote.

The new rate of $5.1352 was voted down at the Sept. 15 meeting. Bice, McEvoy, Hoditis and Lafata opposed the rate. Sommer, Johnson and Hoehn were for the lower rate.

During the Board comment portion of the Sept. 15 meeting, Johnson expressed that he wasn't happy with the approved rate, even though he was one of the four yes votes. He said it wasn't his ideal rate, but that he didn't think a lower rate would pass.

The comment drew the attention of Lafata. The long-time member of the Board had been pitching a lower rate to no avail.

On Wednesday, Lafata changed his mind and voted for the revised rate. With his backing, the amendment passed and the tax rate was changed.

Lafata said that with a tax levy set to expire in December 2013, the District needed to get used to not having the money around.

"If we don’t start drawing that revenue back, we’re going to find ourselves in a bigger pickle," he said.

The difference between the two rates—the one approved two weeks ago and the one approved Wednesday—is roughly $1 million in revenue to the District. Despite receiving less revenue, the budget will remain revenue neutral and turn a $200,00 profit.

"The budget for next year is fully funded with the rate Mr. Johnson proposed—almost $200,000 extra," Hohen said.

The profit would have been larger with a higher rate, but Lafata said the goal is not to make money but to be revenue neutral.

"The bottom line here is, we’re not here to rob from but students, but we also have a job to balance the budget," Lafata said.

A larger-than-normal crowd turned out for the special meeting. During the public comments portion of the night, four people stepped up the microphone to implore the Board to not lower the rate.

One-time Board candidate  called on his former opponents to put the children first—especially after Sommer and Hoehn ran on a children-first platform.

"It’s time to be for our kids," Seider said. "It’s time to make decisions for kids. Do not be a hypocrite."

Shelley Hoffman, a Librarian at Barnwell Middle School, had some harsh words for the Board. She said it seemed like certain Board members called the meeting in order to get their way. 

"I'm tired of all of this," she said. "... This is either,at its best, decision-making incompetency or, at its worst, corruption."

Hoffman called on the Board to look out for the children and not worry so much about tax payers. 

"You are the Board of Education, not the Board of Tax Payer Protection," she said.

FHEA President Anita Miller echoed the sentiments of the previous speakers.

"We need this money to get teachers back in the classroom and make class sizes smaller," Miller said. "... Please do the right thing."

Up on the dias, Bice said she was not happy the Board was considering a lower rate. She said that the District is in need of money, and local money is the best. Bice said that federal money comes with more strings attached. She said the previously-approved rate was of minimal impact per taxpayer but helped out the schools.

"We can make this same decision (to reduce the tax rate) a year from now once we know how volatile, or unvolatile the economy will be," she said. "... I dont understand how we can even reconsider this."

After the rate had already passed, Hoditis expressed his dismay in the comments portion of the meeting. 

"Funding must be here, not at the state level," he said. "We can’t count on them. ... If we hit one hiccup from the state, we will not revenue neutral."

In the end, Sommer, Johnson, Lafata and Hoehn voted to lower the rate. Sommer said unless voters decide to extend the tax levy, the District simply needs to get used to not having the money. 

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Oct. 20.