Please read the presentation, especially the last page. A 1.5% levy will provide $63.7 million next year when we received $61.3 this year. Why does the district need $2,4 million more than this year? They can't provide an answer because they haven't even started to look at next year's needs.
The $600k to $900k cuts mentioned aren't cuts. It is the difference from the maximum levy (3%) to the 1.5% levy. They don't need a 3% levy, so why even discuss that amount. The tax levy system is backwards, you ask for as much as possible, or what you think the taxpayers will pay, not what you will need. That is why we have $50 million in fund reserves. Every year they have asked for more than they need and then the rest goes into the fund reserve. With the $61.3 million they received this year, there was still a $3 million reserve in the education fund. The overall budget had a deficit because they used $7 million from reserves for capital improvements (football field & technology). One board member called it a "planned deficit". The debt service repayment will increase $1.4 million next year but that is separate from the tax levy.
Please read the presentation and understand what is being done. Your taxes do not have to increase by $340.00 next year. A 0% levy option was not even presented to the board. Why not?
The board uses the excuse that we can't recapture the money if it is left on the table. So you increase taxes so you can get as much money as possible? That's wrong.

Here is a great article on the tax levy issue.

http://thewillcountynews.com/?p=400

0% levy is the only choice the board should make. How do we get the board to vote what the tax payers want?

Another $340 added to our taxes? WTF? We already pay through the nose to the School District. Our taxes average $8,000 a year. $5,000 of which go to the school district. Am I missing something or are these teachers living on another planet? Let the teachers walk! I know plenty of people who would love to take their place!

Yep, can't get over how greedy the world has become. So sad. This has now made it impossible for me to continue to live in geneva. When enrollment goes down (as it already is) and teachers lose jobs all together, maybe then they will realize the havoc they have caused. Will they even care? Guess I will take my chances in another dist. Morals and values are lost these days. Me me me!!! As I take on an entire other family which brings my house to a whopping 8 of us at 85,0000 (gross) salary, plus pay a portion of my insurance, no company card, car, people fight for more than the 100,00 plus they are making. I can say we have figured our how to make 5 kids smile and fed everyday. How you ask? Love!! Imagine that, money isn't everything. Bob M. I admire you and the time you put in to this community.

If I was a betting man, I believe the teachers will wish they took the first deal that was offered. I think they were shocked and felt disrespected by the vocal minority and from those who post derogatory remarks about them . For those still complaining about teachers salaries get over it. Teacher salaries have very little impact on why ones taxes will increase this year and the next few years to come. Your tax problem is not because of a teachers contract, even Bob M can agree with this.

Please, email the board if you feel that 0% is what is right for our community! I was at that meeting, and the BOE is receiving many emails regarding the difficult circumstances facing so many in our community. I sincerely think they are listening. So, email them with your thoughts, and go to the next meeting! Just remember, if you call for belt tightening you might not be happy where it has to occur and need to appreciate some of the difficult decisions the board will have to make.

Couple of things:
1. The proposed tax increase next year is not due to the teachers agreement which is being voted on. The board did an excellent job in holding the line on salary increases and the GEA did compromise. No matter your personal feelings, both sides got the deal done. Everyone now needs to accept the fact and move on.
2. The proposed 1.5% tax levy increase is a result of a flawed system. It is not the BOE's fault. That said, they do not have to approve any levy increase. We have enough money to cover next year without a levy increase. The BOE has told the GEA there is no more money, now the taxpayers need to tell the board there is no more money. It is nothing against the board, it is just the way it is.
Those that are interested in learning about the tax levy and how it works are welcome to attend a meeting I'm trying to set up. I will be setting up two meetings on the same topic to accommodate as many schedules as possible. This meeting has to take place before the BOE votes on December 10th. If interested, please send an e-mail to bobm@genevataxfacts.org and tell me what dates & times are best for you. Your e-mail will not be used for any other reason except to inform you of these two meetings. You can also send an e-mail through our website www.genevataxfacts.org As I have said many times, an informed public has power. It is your money, you should have a say in how you what it handled. The BOE is welcome to attend. any meeting that is set up

Interesting Bob that you would have knowledge of the board "holding the line" on the contract when the details have not been released to the public. Maybe you have closer ties to Mr. Grosso and the school board than you are willing to admit?

Thomas
Your assumptions are starting to get annoying. It has already been made public that the GEA agreed to a freeze in the first year. That is "holding the line." I was answering a statement that John S made in a prior comment about the tax levy. You can continue to attack everyone but it is getting a bit creepy when you attack me and all I have ever done is answered every question you have asked. You need to give the teachers agreement a rest. Since the talks started in February, I have never e-mailed Mark Grosso nor have I gotten an e-mail from him about the agreement talks. I don't know any more about the agreement than has been written in the newspaper or here. I was also not on the grassy knoll holding an opened umbrella.

Me thinks ye doth protest too much. Maybe its so annoying because there is some truth to the assumption. However I do understand your need to maintain the perception that you are not helping to call the shots on the school board because that might mean you could possibly be "held accountable" for any boards decisions that might not be favorable to your followers instead of being the one "holding the board accountable". You might want to proof read future posts so that you don't "slip" and lead us to believe that the board "did not" throw out your phone number a long time ago like you had said in an earlier post. You may have never e-mailed or received an e-mail from Mr. Grosso but that does not exclude person to person communication or by phone, correct?

Thomas
I have not spoken to Mark Grosso in person, on the phone, via e-mail, by smoke signal or Morse code. I suggest you watch the video of Monday night's board meeting and listen to my comments on the proposed tax levy.
Next conspiracy theory please.

Mr. McQuillan:

Did you shoot J.R.? People, give it a rest. I swear, the only reason some people post on here and complain is so the pressure in their head doesn't cause it to explode. If you don't like what the Board is doing, VOTE them out.

Chronicle has an article stating that the teachers voted to approve the contract. Now it's in the hands of the Board.