2012 SPECIAL EDUCATION MILLAGE Countywide Proposal

Renew. Restore.

“It’s no longer just a question of funding special education ... It’s about the education we provide ALL children in Jackson County. ”

— JCISD Board President David Salsbury

HERE’S THE STORY ... Why a millage proposal in these economic times? Because

Jackson County voters should know the facts and have a say in their community’s education.

Here’s what’s happening:

Funding is down. Since 2010, special education funding in Jackson

County has dropped $6.5 million – nearly 15 percent. The funding loss is led by declining local property values, which fell $473 million from 2008-2012. As property values fall, so do taxes collected for special education in every Jackson County school.

The need for services is high. From 2000-2010, the number of students

requiring special education services steadily increased. Since then, intervention programs introduced by the ISD and implemented in schools have helped reduce the number of students in special education. Still, 17 percent of students in Jackson County – 1 in every 6 – receive some form of special education services. Maintaining funding for such programs is critical to long-term reduction of special education services.

Everybody pays the difference. Three years ago, millage dollars reimbursed

local school districts for almost 100 percent of their special education costs. Today, despite millions of dollars in savings from cuts, consolidating services, a restructured funding formula, and reductions in services, school districts will pay 25% of their special education costs in 2012-13 – almost $2 million that normally would be used to support educational opportunities and programming for all students.

RENEW. RESTORE.As part of this proposal, Jackson County schools are asking voters to renew the 0.9 enhancement mills they have approved three times since 1997*. The 0.9 enhancement millage is essential to maintain current special education funding and collects an estimated $3.7 million annually. The 2012 proposed enhancement millage renews these 0.9 mills, and thus, can be considered a renewal and is not a new tax.

*(Note: The JCISD did not ask for a renewal in 2002 as the special education fund balance at that time was considered sufficient to sustain programming in local school districts without the enhancement).

With the economy as it is in the State today, the JCISD understands funding cannot go back to the levels of even a few years ago. That’s why the Board is asking voters to restore only a portion of the .7736 mills that have been rolled back by the Headlee Amendment. While the Headlee was passed to limit the dollars that government entities could collect when property values increased, it did not consider the loss of revenue when property values dropped.

Adding 0.65 mills to the current 0.9 enhancement mills would add approximately $2.7 million in new taxes for local schools. These mills would cost the owner of a $50,000 house $16.25/year, a $100,000 house $32.50/year, and a $200,000 house $65/year.

RENEW + RESTORE = 2012 MILLAGE PROPOSAL The proposed 2012 countywide special education millage

takes into consideration the current 0.9 special education enhancement millage that ends in 2012 and only 0.65 of the 0.7736 mills that have been rolled back by the Headlee Amendment from current special education millages. The combined 1.55 mills requested previously have been approved by voters, but are being consolidated into one enhancement millage that voters may reconsider in another six years.

WHAT DOES THIS PROPOSAL MEAN FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS?Should the millage not pass, here is the approximate impact to local school districts’ reimbursements for special education services in 2013-14, almost all of which are mandated:

Columbia$356,000Concord$260,000daVinci $ 69,000East Jackson $286,000Grass Lake $185,000Hanover-Horton$265,000Jackson Public $1,444,000

Michigan Center$288,000Napoleon$329,000Northwest $741,000Paragon $ 92,000Springport $132,000Vandercook Lake$342,000Western $654,000

WHAT’S BEEN CUT?Student support, services, & programs cut due to lack of fundingSchool districts saw this fallout in funding coming and were prepared. Educators have been working together to reduce costs, save dollars, and run quality special education programs as efficiently and effectively as possible. Doing so has saved millions of dollars. However, these efforts – while significant – have not offset the combination of declining revenues and increases in costs that are out of schools’ control. Here’s what’s been

done to reduce special education costs:• Reorganized Special Education to bring all school districts under the ISD umbrella.• Restructured funding formula to create equity and give districts incentives to reduce costs.• Cut ISD special education budget by $2.2 million.• Wage freezes and health care concessions.• Reduced expenses (current and future).

WILL THIS MILLAGE RESTORE THE RECENT CUTS AND REDUCTIONS?

No. The resizing and the restructured funding formula which has been put in place is here to stay and will continue to save dollars for years to come. This millage mainly will assist local school districts by leveling off the decline in revenues and reducing future cuts to staff and programming.

OF THIS MILLAGE GOES DIRECTLY TO LOCAL SCHOOLS

Should this millage pass, 85% of the dollars will go directly to local districts to reimburse for mandated

special education costs. The other 15% will go to the JCISD to provide direct services to local districts.

This will help districts keep general education dollars working for ALL students, and reduce possible cuts to:

Teacher staffing Support staff After-school activities, programs Electives, such as:

AP classes Drama Music (Band, Chorale) Physical Education

School Media Centers Sports Technology purchases Student transportation

85%

GET INFORMED Take time to learn how the 2012 countywide special

education enhancement millage proposal will affect you, your family, and educational opportunities for children in your school district. Then make an informed decision and vote August 7.

Make sure your voice is heard at the polls or by absentee ballot (available through the Jackson County Clerk’s Office. More information is available at www.co.jackson.mi.us).

VOTE AUGUST 7