Northwestern Corrects Rylance
[note: Sean Johnson of the Oshkosh Northwestern sent me the following email. Hyperlinks in the text were added by me.--Tony Palmeri]
December 30, 2002
Dear Mr. Palmeri:
It has come to my attention that a guest columnist on your Web site has criticized the Oshkosh Northwestern for not covering and explaining the tax rate decrease passed by the Oshkosh Area School District.
While I respect the right of Mr. Rylance to express his opinion on the performance of the Northwestern, I would expect that he would base his opinion on the facts. In this case, he is mistaken. The Northwestern has published six articles reporting the decreases in school district taxes for this year, the first being October 25, 2002.
I do not mind being held to a high standard by media critics. I would only ask that you hold your commentary and guests to the same standard of accuracy. As the editor who directly supervises The Northwestern reporting staff, I also know that mistakes happen from time to time. At the Northwestern, we correct our mistakes promptly and publicly as soon as we are able to verify the error. I would ask that you do the same. To help verify Mr. Rylance's mistake, I have attached the original story by Eric Bradley that reports on the school district's decreased tax rate. I would have taken this up with Mr. Rylance directly, but his e-mail address is not included with his commentary.
I appreciate your willingness to promptly correct this mistake.
Sean Johnson
City Editor
Oshkosh Northwestern
First article regarding this matter:
Publication: Oshkosh Northwestern Pub Date: 10/25/2002
Book: B Page: 01
Byline: By Eric Bradley, of the Northwestern
School taxes $41 lower this year
Dropping enrollments, more state aid and higher then expected growth will mean
the average Oshkosh homeowner will pay roughly $41 less in school taxes this
year.
That should offset the expected $25 increase that same homeowner will be paying
Winnebago County.
The Oshkosh Area School District Board set a 2002-03 local tax levy of more
than $27.6 million during its meeting Wednesday night. The total is more than
$628,000 less than last year, and is the first time the levy has been reduced
in the last six years.
Based on an Oshkosh Northwestern analysis of the tax rate and levy, the owner
of an $80,000 home will pay $769.28 in school taxes, down from last year's $810.89.
The owner of a $100,000 home will pay roughly $961 down from
last year's bill of $1,013. The tax rate projections are based on The Northwestern's
analysis of equalized and assessed property values across the district. Tax
bills for other communities covered by the school district will vary based on
local
assessments.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance Brad Cauffman said the decrease in school
taxes is partially based on a reduction in the district's state-imposed revenue
caps that limit the amount of local taxes it can collect. The caps are based
on enrollment and the value of the property in the district.
"We also got more state aid," he said. "And the equalized value
increased so
the total tax did go down."
The district has to still cut $188,000 from its general fund after enrollment
predictions were short by 83 students. Clerks later learned 4 more students
were eligible to be included in the head count that determines the district's
state funds, saving the district about $17,000.
The district anticipated 10,593 students this year, but membership rates taken
on the third Friday of the school year combined with summer school enrollments
show the district has roughly 10,514 students. The cuts come about a month into
the school year and at a time when officials are studying how to avoid a potential
$1.4 million shortfall next year.
One idea the board has studied is a middle school consolidation plan involving
Perry Tipler Middle School, which has 259 vacant seats. The middle school students
would be sent to Carl Traeger and South Park middle schools. South Park has
182 vacant seats.
Tipler Middle School would be filled with students from Franklin, Oakwood and
Carl Traeger elementary school. The drop in the tax levy and the rate has some
parents and teachers pleading to the board and district officials to consider
holding a referendum to increase taxes by exceeding revenue caps. They said
the money raised would be enough to shore the budget deficit and prevent Tipler
and other schools from being consolidated.
"In the long term we have to pressure the legislature to remove the revenue
caps," said Keith Thompson, a Tipler guidance counselor. "In the short
term we have to consider a referendum to exceed limits here. Other communities
have done it, we can do it."
Thompson said taxpayers could raise the money to buy time to create cost savings
plans better than consolidating schools. That doesn't match the mindset of some
board members who are considering the consolidation. Member Mike Stratz said
the financial problems the district faces, namely declining enrollment, doesn't
justify more tax money but rather becoming more efficient.
"We need a strategy to get better at saving money," he said. "Making
use of
the facilities is important."
Eric Bradley: (920) 426-6668 or ebradley@smgpo.gannett.com
Additional articles including this information were published on the
following dates:
10/29/02
11/4/02
11/21/02
11/26/02
11/27/02