City Council Minutes 1995 02-27-95 (special cc) MEMORANDUM
DATE: February 28, 1995
TO: Yorkville Community Unit School District
#115 Board of Education
Yorkville City Council Members
FROM: Dr. Thomas D. Engler
SUBJECT: Joint Meeting of Yorkville City Council
and District #115 Board of Education
Seven members of the Yorkville Board of Education and
six members of the Yorkville City Council met on
February 27, 1995 to brainstorm on the topic of
solutions to the burden of property tax relief for the
funding of education. Also present were Mr. Jim
Nanninga, Yorkville City Council, and Dr. Thomas D.
Engler, Superintendent, Yorkville School District.
Mrs. Engelhardt began the meeting by requesting that
roll call be taken and extended the Board' s appreciation
to the City Council members for attending the meeting
and the sharing of ideas.
Mrs. Engelhardt outlined the parameters of brainstorming
and listed three questions that would be the basis for
the sharing of ideas.
The three questions were as follows:
1 . What are some values of networking?
2. What factors are driving people to ask for changes
in school funding?
3 . What are some components of possible changes in
funding the group would like to suggest?
The sharing of ideas began with the discussion of the
first question.
March 15, 1995
Page 2
The main points from the value of networking were:
• Present a united front - more influence
• Ideas from a different perspective
• Take ideas to the State Legislators
• The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
• Understand each others financial problems
• Expand the networks - local and beyond
• Same purposes/directions/common goals
• More effective use of time/resources
• Joint planning
The main points from the discussion on what components
are making people ask for changes in school funding:
• Statewide inequities (business/industry
• Higher property taxes (especially senior
citizens)
• People paying property tax, but have no
children/rental units
• Families are required to work hard just to
maintain the status quo
• State rules are suspect
• School funding - vote requirement and that
forces further inequities
• Other states are changing funding
• Local wealth is spent in other counties
through sales tax, etc.
March 15, 1995
Page 3
• People were misled by the lottery
The main points from the discussion on some components
of possible changes in funding:
• Other revenue sources - income tax/sales tax
• Equalize distribution to a minimum level
• Study present exemptions
• Unfunded State mandates - priorities
• Task force developed (include those closest to
the source (board members, administration,
teachers, and property owners)
• Identify funds dedicated to education
• Pressure - time - expedient to change
• Examine other state' s actions
• Greater flexibility in impact fees
• Freeze property taxes at current level and
require state to fund increases - develop a
specific time period (sunset) and task force =
solution