As a candidate for Legislature, I promised to fight for lower property and income taxes. As I campaigned door to door last year, I heard again and again that property taxes were much too high. People often referred to their property taxes as ridiculous. Since being elected last fall, I continue to consistently hear that property taxes are too high. I agree.

This evening, members of the Millard Public School Board will vote on whether or not to pursue a special election asking residents of the district to raise their taxes by supporting a nine-cent override of the district’s $1.05 levy for their general operating budget.

There is no doubt that Millard Public Schools offers its students an excellent quality education. Indeed, many districts look to Millard as an example. Still, elected officials have a duty to their constituents and all Nebraskans to provide accurate and transparent information about how taxpayer dollars are collected and spent.

Millard Schools are asking for this increase in tax funding even though:

1)    Millard Public Schools receive more in state aid than only two other public school districts in Nebraska.

2)    Only 38 of Nebraska’s 245 school districts receive more state aid per student than Millard.

3)    Millard’s poverty rate is half the state average.

4)    Millard property values have increased in the last two years.

5)    Millard receives over twice as much state aid per student than Elkhorn Public Schools or D.C. West, who are also members of the Learning Community.

6)    Millard receives almost half of its general budget from income and sales taxes on Nebraskans.

Millard Public Schools Mill Levy and TEEOSA Aid History

Property tax levy – The property tax levy shown includes bonding for school buildings. Millard is in a sweet spot as many of their buildings are paid for, but are not yet old. You will note that even with large increases in state aid in 2009/10 and 2010/11, their levy increased.

Levy Amounts and State TEEOSA Aid

2001-2017

Year                      Mill Levy           Total Mill Levy       TEEOSA Aid                 % Change in TEEOSA Aid

2001/02                1.25670            1.25670                    40,349,210.84               11.64%

2002/03                1.27746            1.27746                    43,617,862.27                8.1%

2003/04                1.32119             1.32119                    42,473,327.80               -2.62%

2004/05                1.29890            1.29890                  43,472,738.22                 2.35%

2005/06                1.28995            1.28995                   48,181,190.33                10.83%

2006/07                1.27958            1.27958                   49,767,642.35                3.29%

2007/08                1.20999            1.20999                  56,649,726.98                13.83%

2008/09                1.20997            1.20997                  57,769,518.75                 1.98%

2009/10                0.25000            1.20000                  75,769,526.04                 31.83%     Start of CL

2010/11                0.26000            1.21000                  87,232,779.00                 15.13%

2011/12                0.26000            1.21000                  72,057,188.00                 -17.4%

2012/13                0.26000           1.21000                  72,526,676.00                  0.65%

2013/14                0.27000           1.22000                  80,779,394.00                  11.38%

2014/15                0.30000           1.25000                  86,409,366.00                   6.97%

2015/16                0.29000           1.24000                  89,955,513.00                  4.1%

2016/17                0.27372           1.22372                  89,635,460.00                 -0.36%      End of CL

2017/18                                                                       75,766,971.00                  -15.47%

CL (Common Levy) – Each school in the learning community shared a ninety five cent ($0.95) levy from 2009/10 until the Learning Community ended in 2016/17.

https://www.douglascountyclerk.org/images/stories/Tax_Rates_by_Subdivision/2017/Tax_Rates_Levies_for_Douglas_County_Political_Subdivisions.htm

Total State Funding for Millard Public Schools

Total funding includes TEEOSA, Special Education funding, Homestead Exemption, Property Tax Credit, and State Apportionment.

From: Nebraska Department of Education Annual Financial Report (AFR) – Millard

Line 01-1-03000-000 Total State Receipts

Year                       Total State Receipts        % Change            Difference

2008/09                77,202,891.28

2009/10                90,055,542.62                     14.3%                    $12,852,651

2010/11                90,853,668.71                     0.98%                    $798,126

2011/12                91,200,318.74                      0.38%                    $346,650

2012/13                92,410,284.53                      1.3%                      $1,209,965

2013/14                100,744,791.19                    8.3%                      $8,334,506

2014/15                108,705,702.72                    7.4%                      $7,960,911

2015/16                112,396,214.31                     3.3%                      $3,690,512

Total State Aid amounts are only available through year 2015/16.

Total state funding has increased every year.

https://www.education.ne.gov/FOS/ASPX/Search.aspx?id=1

Below is a chart of the total amount of TEEOSA dollars each school district gets, sorted from the most aid received to the least amount of aid.

TEEOSA Spread Sheet By Teeosa Aid