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When Mahtomedi voters approved a levy of up to $1,100 per pupil unit in 2004, they were told the levy wouldn't reach that amount until 10 years later.

Instead, they were told the amount would increase slightly each year to coincide with the maximum levy amount allowed by the state, which was to reach $1,100 in 2014.

Two years ago, however, the state increased the cap to $1,444. Instead of providing an adequate level of state funding, district officials say, the Legislature voted to allow districts to seek increases in local funding.

Faced with declining enrollment and what they argue is unstable, inadequate state funding, district officials have decided to step up the plans and increase the levy immediately to the $1,100 per pupil maximum approved by voters.

Last year, district officials opted not to take the maximum for the current school year, 2006-07. They chose to stick with the original funding plan that was pledged during the levy campaign - collecting about $900 per pupil this year.

For 2007-08, however, the district is facing an estimated $750,000 to $900,000 shortfall. Increasing the levy to the cap would generate about $400,000 to help offset that.

According to school officials, community feedback indicates that most residents don't believe many more cuts can be made without harming the quality of the education provided by the district. Thus, district officials are looking at ways to generate additional revenues to avoid or limit the cuts.

"I think people would feel we reneged on our responsibility if we didn't take this opportunity," School Board member Kate Christopher said about taking the maximum levy amount.

The district held a community forum Dec. 6 about the levy increase and three other options to increase revenues (visit www.whitebearpress.com to read last week's article about the forum). Feedback about the levy increase was generally positive, according to Superintendent Mark Wolak.

"There were comments about the importance of the community understanding that the Legislature made this decision as a means of funding public education," he said.

A second forum is planned for Jan. 25, but the state requires the levy be certified by the end of December.

State funding levels for 2007-08 and 2008-09 won't be determined until later next year. Thus the district had to decide on its levy without knowing how much state funding it will receive.

The estimated shortfall assumes no increase in state funding. It also assumes an enrollment decline of 150 students.

Should the state increase its funding significantly (done in a two-year cycle), the district can't go back and undo the levy increase. But officials pledged to use the money conservatively, and would look at decreasing the levy in 2008-09.

"The cost of public education per pupil is reasonable," Wolak said. "We provide a wide range of programs and services to all school age children for approximately $53 per day of school for every student in Mahtomedi Schools. This includes all costs of education for all students, including classroom costs, administration, special education and transportation."

Kristine Goodrich can be reached at 651-407-1233 or vadnaisheightspress@sherbtel.net.

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