Ottawa-Glandorf voters were getting educated on school funding and the income tax issue on the May ballot.
David Conely from Rockmill Financial Consulting presented information about the current state of the fiscal situation of the school district and why now is the time to go for a 1% increase in their income tax for a continuing period of time. Ottawa-Glandorf decided to put the additional money for operating expenses on the ballot to because they saw a revenues trending downs, along with population, meanwhile expenses continued to rise for the school.
“The school district has gone 26-27 years without an additional tax (for operating expenses), so they have really extended the ability to operate the schools without increasing revenue, even though there has been some slight increases in property taxes. So the expenditures that it takes to operate the schools continue to grow year to year. And that is what is putting pressure on the financial condition. Thus the need for an additional tax,” said David Conely, Pres. Rockmill Financial Consulting.
Conely says he wanted the people to understand the school district examined their current financial situation and decided now was the time to ask for the new money. Voters will decide on the issue on May 8th.
