Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Roebuck: Millage increase will be a battle

If the Prescott School District hopes to pass a millage increase, theyre going to have to work at it. That was the assessment of State Rep. Tommy Roebuck during the regular meeting of the school board on Aug. 22.

Weve got problems, dont we? Roebuck asked the board as he took the floor.

Roebuck had attended a workshop of the board several weeks ago to help evaluate the districts current situation regarding state-mandated improvements to the school system and how the district can fund those improvements.

During the Aug. 22 meeting, he said that hed spent some time researching the attitude of local businesses and residents regarding the millage. He said there seemed to be little support for the increase.

Roebuck cited other factors in the community, including citizen complaints about high electric bills within the city and the closing of the Prescott Potlatch facility. He said that combination meant the millage increase seems to have little support.

I didnt get a real positive response. Thats just my opinion, Roebuck said. I hope Im wrong.

The district has issued a fact sheet including the impact on homes of varying values. Roebuck said this increase, as is true with most millage increases, isnt going to be a significant raise in property taxes for most home owners.

Its not a lot of money, he said. But it is money.

One of the important points of the issue, according to Roebuck, is the fact that the state will currently pay 60 percent of the cost of improvements.

Whether that 60 percent will be on the table a year from now, I dont know, Roebuck said.

Roebuck said Prescott is not the only district facing the issue of facility repairs. He said districts across the state are being forced to make repairs and do renovations to buildings, and that most are struggling to find ways to make it happen.

Believe me, weve got some other issues in education right now, too, Roebuck said. Youre not alone.

After some additional discussion, Roebuck pledged his support for the issue.

I havent told you anything you dont already know, he said. If theres anything we can do, let us know.

The key, according to Roebuck, is for the district to get information to the public and present their needs in a clear manner. He suggested that they call for teachers and students to help spread that information and support the increase.

The board voted to ask for the millage increase several months ago as a way to pay for improvements that include renovations to all three campuses. Prescott Superintendent Hyacinth Deon said the increase will also help beef up our balance. Like other districts in the area, Prescott has battled a continually lower financial balance at least partly due to lower student enrollment.