Antelope County News
  • HOME
    • NPA Award Nomination >
      • 2019 Online Video Entries
      • Freedom of Information
      • Social Media Live From Antelope County
      • Social Media Newsworthy
      • Social Media - Coffee With Coaches
      • Online Ads
      • Sports Videos - Player Profile Bloopers
      • Sports Videos
      • Breaking News
      • Breaking News Tilden Fire
      • Breaking News Driverless Car
      • 2019 Online Video Entries
    • E-EDITION >
      • E-EDITION LOG IN
    • SHOP LOCAL
    • ABOUT US
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISING
    • Terms of Use
  • OPINION
    • Views On The News
    • Letters To The Editor >
      • Letter To The Editor Policy
    • Thank Yous
  • Sports
    • SPORTS SCHEDULES
    • PLAYER PROFILES >
      • 2019-20 PLAYER PROFILES
      • 2017-18 PROFILES
      • 2016-17 PROFILES
    • VIDEOS
    • Husker Football Contest
  • News
    • SUBMIT NEWS
    • LIVE STREAMING
    • OLD MILL DAYS
    • Neligh
    • ORCHARD
    • CLEARWATER
    • TILDEN
    • ELGIN
    • BRUNSWICK
    • OAKDALE
    • ROYAL
    • EWING
    • ANTELOPE COUNTY
    • NEBRASKA
    • ANTELOPE COUNTY FAIR
  • WEATHER
    • WEATHER NEWS
    • CANCELLATIONS
  • Celebrate
    • SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENT
    • BIRTHDAYS
    • ENGAGEMENTS
    • WEDDINGS
    • ANNIVERSARIES
    • BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
    • CARD SHOWERS
  • Obituaries
  • CLASSIFIEDS
    • GARAGE SALES
    • GARAGE SALE
    • SUBMIT A CLASSIFIED
    • CLASSIFIEDS POLICY
  • WEEKLY ADS
  • PUBLIC NOTICES
  • Social Media - Welcome To Nebraka
  • Breaking News - Fire
  • Breaking News - Page Fire
  • Sports Video - Surprise Batter
  • Sports Video - Surprise Batter
  • HOME
    • NPA Award Nomination >
      • 2019 Online Video Entries
      • Freedom of Information
      • Social Media Live From Antelope County
      • Social Media Newsworthy
      • Social Media - Coffee With Coaches
      • Online Ads
      • Sports Videos - Player Profile Bloopers
      • Sports Videos
      • Breaking News
      • Breaking News Tilden Fire
      • Breaking News Driverless Car
      • 2019 Online Video Entries
    • E-EDITION >
      • E-EDITION LOG IN
    • SHOP LOCAL
    • ABOUT US
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISING
    • Terms of Use
  • OPINION
    • Views On The News
    • Letters To The Editor >
      • Letter To The Editor Policy
    • Thank Yous
  • Sports
    • SPORTS SCHEDULES
    • PLAYER PROFILES >
      • 2019-20 PLAYER PROFILES
      • 2017-18 PROFILES
      • 2016-17 PROFILES
    • VIDEOS
    • Husker Football Contest
  • News
    • SUBMIT NEWS
    • LIVE STREAMING
    • OLD MILL DAYS
    • Neligh
    • ORCHARD
    • CLEARWATER
    • TILDEN
    • ELGIN
    • BRUNSWICK
    • OAKDALE
    • ROYAL
    • EWING
    • ANTELOPE COUNTY
    • NEBRASKA
    • ANTELOPE COUNTY FAIR
  • WEATHER
    • WEATHER NEWS
    • CANCELLATIONS
  • Celebrate
    • SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENT
    • BIRTHDAYS
    • ENGAGEMENTS
    • WEDDINGS
    • ANNIVERSARIES
    • BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
    • CARD SHOWERS
  • Obituaries
  • CLASSIFIEDS
    • GARAGE SALES
    • GARAGE SALE
    • SUBMIT A CLASSIFIED
    • CLASSIFIEDS POLICY
  • WEEKLY ADS
  • PUBLIC NOTICES
  • Social Media - Welcome To Nebraka
  • Breaking News - Fire
  • Breaking News - Page Fire
  • Sports Video - Surprise Batter
  • Sports Video - Surprise Batter
Picture

N-O Superintendent Talks About Uncertainty With Legislature

12/1/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Submitted by Scott Gregory

As I type this, we are only three weeks away from Christmas break and the new year.  With the New Year, we will have a new president and a new state legislative session.  President Trump has nominated Betsy DeVos as his secretary of education.  Mrs. Devos is known for her advocacy for charter schools.  While this has caused some consternation among leaders I know, I am confident that Nebraska’s No. 1 in the nation ACT scores and “closing the gap” progress will catch the secretary’s eye and that the new administration will be pragmatic in evaluating good state systems of education.   

With a new legislative session, we face great uncertainty.  The state is looking at a looming budget shortfall.  The only certainty that is known, is that a wide range of options will be on the table.  I’ve heard discussions of “sin taxes” as well as a thorough look at the school aid funding formula, as well as sales taxes.  

During the 2010-11 school year, Neligh-Oakdale received roughly $1 million in state aid.  This year, we will receive $111.  It is clear that the school funding formula is broken.  Along with this, the local property tax burden is too high and while the state has shirked its responsibility, local taxpayers have taken over the burden.  

Certain elected officials don’t acknowledge this because it helps them point out that they reduced state spending.  Those same officials will blame school spending and call for more action from local school districts.  
However, that is a red herring.  According to the Open Sky Institute, from FY 1995-2015, the rate of state budget growth was 4.5 percent.  For K-12 public schools during the same period, it was 4.17 percent. Yes, you read that right. K-12 public education spending growth was lower than state growth.  
​
Locally, Neligh-Oakdale is currently operating with $460,080 less in tax asking than it did in 2015-2016.  Our trajectory with the levy is downward.  In 2011-12, the levy was $1.04.  For this school year, it is .86.  Claims to cut spending ignore trends and don’t acknowledge that this will continue due to the diligence of school boards.  
It is in the public interest that we have well run school systems and that school funding be fair and equitable to all taxpayers.  It is my hope that our resolution will be to work toward making both of those goals a reality.   
Comments
    By Community
    NELIGH    
    ORCHARD    
    ELGIN    
    TILDEN    

    CLEARWATER
    ROYAL
    OAKDALE
    ​BRUNSWICK
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

News That Matters To Antelope County  -  Your News. Your Way. Every Day!
Our News Websites 
• Antelope County News
• Knox County News
• Holt County News
• Boone County News
About Us          
• Contact Us
• Submit News
​• Advertising
​• Subscribe
Our Communities           
• Brunswick       • Oakdale
​• Clearwater     • Orchard
• Elgin                   • Royal 
​• Neligh               • Tilden
​
Social Media                         
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube
​• Snapchat: LocalCountyNews

Picture
Picture
Picture
© Pitzer Digital, LLC