Dear Linton Community,
Thank you to everyone who attended our community meeting on April 23rd. We truly appreciate your time, your questions, and your commitment to our school and community.
For those who were unable to attend, we are sharing the full presentation here: https://aptg.co/80YMzV. This presentation was created to provide clear and accurate information so that all voters have the opportunity to make an informed decision.
Over the past several months, our district has worked to better understand the current condition of our facilities and identify areas that need attention. Through a Facility Condition Assessment, we were able to identify items that are in poor condition as well as those that are critical for daily operations. This process gives us a clearer picture of where our needs exist, but it is important to note that any long-term plan remains flexible and subject to change as priorities evolve.
After hearing public input and thoughtfully reviewing our facility needs and long-term planning considerations, the school board has made the decision to place a question on the June 9th ballot to approve up to 20 mills for a Building Fund.
We understand this is not an easy decision. Our role as a school is not to tell the community how to vote, but to provide transparent, factual information so each voter can make the decision that is right for them.
Slides 17–20 of the presentation provide a detailed look at the estimated tax impact for residential and agricultural property owners. These slides also show a breakdown of the current school portion of property taxes and how that would change under different mill scenarios. Our goal is to ensure clarity and transparency as you consider this decision.
Justification for 20 Mills
The proposed Building Fund is not intended for new construction or a building addition. Instead, it is focused on maintaining and improving our existing facilities.
Our Facility Condition Assessment identified items in poor condition as well as items critical to daily operations. The estimated cost to address these needs over the next eight years is approximately $3,300,000. A 20 mill levy rate would provide approximately $2,500,000 over that same time span, nearly $800,000 short of costs.
A Building Fund provides a dedicated, protected source of funding specifically for maintenance and facility improvements.
State law no longer allows the school board to increase mill levy rates without a vote of the people. However, the board can lower the mill rate in future years if appropriate.
State funding is unpredictable, and legislative trends indicate the potential for limited growth or decreases in funding. This creates uncertainty for long-term planning.
Establishing a Building Fund allows the district to be proactive rather than reactive, helping avoid larger emergency repairs and unexpected costs in the future.
We have also received thoughtful questions about how Linton compares to other school districts. If approved at 20 mills, Linton’s total mill rate would be approximately 95 mills. This would place us higher than some neighboring districts, but still below the projected state average.
Those comparisons can be helpful, but they do not tell the full story. For example, based on unique district factors, some area schools receive between $200,000 to $550,000 more in federal funding than Linton School. Each district has different needs, building conditions, funding sources, and financial realities. I cannot speak to the financial needs, goals, or operational decisions of other school districts. I also cannot speak to the needs of other local entities that levy taxes. I can only speak to the needs of Linton Public School and what is required to maintain and support our facilities for our students and community.
I encourage all community members to review the presentation, ask questions, and stay engaged. As always, I am more than happy to visit with you by phone, email, or in person.
Most importantly, I encourage you to exercise your right to vote on June 9th.
Thank you for your continued support of Linton Public School and our students.
Sincerely,
Michael Schirado
Superintendent, Linton Public School