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Page 9-PLAINDEALER-HERALD. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 22,1985 Schools say more money essential to maintain programs Hawthorn Elementary School Dist. 18 is in much the same $ Editor's Note: The following is the fourth and final part of a special McHenry Plalndealer Herald News Service series on finances and upcoming referenda for school districts in McHenry and Kane counties. By Mark Baus Plalndealer Herald News Service Some common misconceptions among voters during a referen­ dum campaign are that a school district is in financial trouble because tne school board hasn't managed its money properly, or that "fat" can be trimmed from the budget and everything will be alright. Another misconception is that a school board wants, as opposed to needs, more money to add programs not vital to students' basic education. Although this may be the case in some circumstances, the real reason so many school districts are asking for tax increases through referenda is simply that current revenues do not meet expenditures situation. Having found itself $200,000 in debt because of dwindling Supt. Emfi Williams said four staff members have been eliminated and six state and local funds over the last 10 to 12 years, Supt. Emil for the most basic of educational programs. Nine McHenry and Kane County school administrators whose districts are running referenda each said the additional money that would be obtained is needed to maintain current programs or alleviate serious problems within the district. Decreases in assessed property values and state support are the major reasons cited for the lack of funds. Union Consolidated School Dist. 8 is a case in point. Since the 1980-81 school year, the one-school district in Union has seen local tax revenue drop from $392,958 to $307,512, a decrease of more than $85,000, according to Supt. James Carrow. Carrow said the projected amount the Union school district will receive for the 1985-86 school year will again decrease, to $302,533. State funding has taken an even more drastic dive, ac- song. Having seen assessed property valuation decrease for the first oprding to Carrow. From 1980-81 to 1984-85, Dist. 8's share of state time in almost 20 years and the state's share of the educational tab funding has dropped from more than $118,000 to less than $41,000. Because of the decrease in funds, the district has had to lay off one classes at Hawthorn School have been combined to make three split- grade classes. "Last fall when school started, some of the parents weren't too happy with the situation. I think they realize they have a choice to keep things the ' Williams saia. way they are or pass the referendum,"* Officials of Elementary School Dist. 47 in Crystal Lake, which also has a referendum on the ballot in February, sing the same ;fc teacher-secretary and one full-time teacher and has curtailed health education and art programs. Carrow explained that before the decision was made to try a referendum, every program was scrutinized to find ways of freeing up additional money, "We have changed our kindergarten program from a half-day program to an all-day program in order to eliminate a bus run. That money went to our educational fund," Carrow explained. "We've also added a payroll service to eliminate some administrative work." * mm J ; 3 w * wmi'wm decrease from 48 percent to 24 percent, Dist. 47 Supt. Bob Blazier said, "I think the message is loud and clear: We need more monev." Blazier said a citizens' group in Crystal Lake, Citizens for a Quality Community, has done a good job of getting that message out to the community. "The response to our polls indicate strong sup­ port in the community. People are realizing the close correlation between quality education and property values. By voting for the referendum, people are protecting their real estate investment,", Blazier said. . i Tim Kelly, assistant superintendent of finances for Cary School Dist. 26, which is asking for a 75^cents per $100 of assessed valuation increase in property taxes, said a citizen committee looked into Dist. 26's finances and determined a referendum was necessary to just make a dent in the district's $300,000 debt. "We have seen a decrease in both state funding and assessed valuation. As a result, we have cut 22 percent of our staff," Kellv said. Kelly said the school board has not made any comments that could De construed as threatening to help ensure that the referen­ dum passes. "Basically what weVe said to the community is that we are going to live within our means. We're not mating any threatening statements. If the issue is not successful, we'll have to go back and take a hard look at the educational program," Kelly, said. Dundee School Dist. 300 Supt. Dr. Joseph Scime, whose district is; experiencing a $3 million deficit, said the community is being given three options on the February ballot. "We have said we are going to ' balance the budget. We can do that two ways. One is to increase' revenue (pass the referendum), two is to cut programs. By that I * mean academics, extra curriculars, vocational education or shortened school days," Scime said. Cutting from the budget is nothing new to the Dundee school, board. Over the last three years it has cut $7.1 million by, eliminating 118 staff positions and 30 percent of its administrative staff and by reducing the building budget by 10 percent, to name a few. Scime said a survey conducted this summer indicated that the' residents of the district did not want to see any more cuts, but, he said, he couldn't bring that to mean that the passage of the referendum is imminent. "I'm hopefull, that's all I can say," he said. The message is the same in virtually every school district that is 10 running a referendum. State tax money is inadequate, dwindling from nearly 50 percent of the total budget 10 years ago to less than 30 npropnt nf thp hurlfpt in snmp riistripta tnHnv AccpcwH vnlnnHnn is Many area school districts which have had referenda recently say the tax hikes are essential to maintain a proper level of going down, causing local tax education for our county's young people. though slowed during the last CHICAGO CITY , BALLET ^ Saturday , February 23 ^ 8:00 p .m. HEMMENS AUDITORIUM 150 Dexter Ct., E Igin oaay. revenue to decrease while inflation, few years, pushes costs up steadily. 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