8399-10 Support School Operating Levy

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RESOLUTION NO. gS99-10 BY: Antonio, Bullock, Butler, Madigan, Powers, Smith, Summers. A Resolution in support of Lakewood School Operating Levy. Whereas, The Lakewood City School District does not receive a revenue increase from voted property taxes unless voters approve additional millage; Whereas, The Lakewood City School District has not asked for, and therefore not received any increased voted property tax revenue since 2002, long past the promised three years before additional millage would be sought; Whereas, revenues from property tax receipts have dropped by $1.2 million per year and state funding has dropped by $1 million per year; Whereas, The Lakewood City School District has been fiscally accountable by reducing costs: 0 2004 thru 2009- $5 million in cost reductions 0 2009- $2.9 million dollars 0 2010 - $1.3 million dollars o Proposed future reductions; 2010- 2012 will need to cut an additional $4.1 million, even if the operating levy passes. Whereas, investments made by our community in our schools have begun to pay off as shown by the "Excellent `rating on the 2009 district report cazd. Whereas, without the support of this operating levy the District will have to shave an additional $2 million in program costs, on top of the cuts noted above, Whereas, the employees of the District have acknowledged the importance of this levy towards maintaining integrity of the instructional program by voluntarily agreeing to base pay freezes, Whereas, should this levy fail the District will be obligated to return to the ballot for additional millage higher than the cunent 6.9 mills on the May 4th, 2010 Ballot. Whereas, Economists all agree that long term fixes to our National economy will require a relentless focus and investment on primary and secondary educatian and its effectiveness. And whereas great cities have great schools, value them, invest in them, and benefit mightily from them; now, therefore,