The Fieldcrest Board of Education approved the finance committee's recommendation to initiate the paperwork to adopt a Resolution with the intent to place an education fund tax rate increase of .55/per $100 EAV on the November ballot.
If the Resolution is approved and voted favorably by the District's residents, approximately $531,000 will be generated yearly for the education fund. This is far less than what was needed in April, 2003 and still short of what the District would like to have. However, the Board of Education and the Administrative Team has demonstrated fiscal accountability by reducing personnel and supply costs without compromising the integrity of the academic programs.
A successful referendum will enable the Board of Education to scale back somewhat the current extracurricular fees. The .55 rate is predicated upon several assumptions, the primary one being that before 2008, the State of Illinois will have enacted some form of property tax relief and at the same time come up with a more equitable way of funding public education. Other assumptions on the length of time this new rate issue will carry District 6 assumes that EAV will remain flat for another year or so. Any increase in land values will enable the District to begin to build reserves once again in the major operating funds.
Fieldcrest Superintendent Dr. Michael Stagliano said that the Board of Education has demonstrated
to the citizens of Fieldcrest that cost-cutting has been accomplished. The proposed .55 tax rate
is well below the .90 cent rate that was soundly defeated last year. According to Stagliano, now
it is time for the citizens of the District to step up to the plate. The District needs
everyone's support. The Citizens' Advisory Committee, the Grade Site Congifuration Study Committee
and the Fieldcrest Education Association support the need for the proposed tax increase for the Education Fund.
