MEEKER I “Sure we are disappointed, but we will carry on and continue to provide the best education possible for our students,” was how Bill deVergie, president of the Meeker School Board, reacted to the defeat of the second attempted tax mill levy increase in two years.
The $950,000-plus raised from the override would have been used to restore some programs and instructors as well as repair district infrastructure.
By roughly the same margin as last year, the measure was defeated by an 888-820 margin, which is 1.5 percent of the vote.
Meeker School District Superintendent Mark Meyer echoed deVergie’s sentiments that the district and teachers will do everything they can despite the defeat to provide students the best education possible.
“We may be all right this year as we have already made $600,000 in cuts compared to the $700,000 shortfall last year,” Meyer said. “Hopefully we won’t have to mention the word ‘cuts’ the rest of this year, but we won’t be getting the $470,000 the state returned to us last year.”
Of the election results, he said, “It turned out really close, as I figured; it was about the same margin as last year.”
Meyer said there has been no thought given as yet on trying for another tax levy override again next year.
“We haven’t even thought about it,” he said. “It may not even be legal for us to seek the tax increase again for three years in a row. We’ll just have to live within our budget.”
deVergie added, “I truly thought the override would be best solution, but I guess I am in the minority.”
Asked what he thought the MSD board would do next, he said, “I really don’t know; we haven’t really discussed it since the election. The board will sit down soon and figure out the best way to the future.
“Our best hope at this point is that the state government/Legislature comes through to refigure the financing, but that is unlikely at this late date,” he said. “It is time for us to once again reassess and re-evaluate, but it looks that we will be underfunded again this next year.”
How much of a shortfall the district could see depends on the tax funds that will start coming in, in January, he said.
“We are certainly going to keep the schools open and educate the kids,” deVergie said. “And despite only a small raise in the past couple of years, I am certain that the teachers will do their best to provide a good education.
“Certainly there is grumbling from the district employees regarding pay,” he said. “The cost of living continues to rise and these folks have only had a small 1 percent raise in the last three or four years. Costs keep going up and their pay is not matching the inflation, and that makes it tough to meet just the basic expenses.
“One way or another, we will continue moving forward,” deVergie said. “It’s not going to be easy, but we will all do the best we can.”
