Victoria MN Newspaper-City Scoop

Councilmember Crowley recommended that the grandson come in. "Mrs. Johnson isn't happy about this. My preference is not to negotiate this now," he said.

Said Mr. Uram, "Matt Johnson is an attorney in Washington DC. I doubt that would happen. I suggest that any further discussion won't lead anywhere.'

Said Mayor O'Connor, "I'm sympathetic but this is business."

"And I would not like to see a gesture turned into a renegotiation," said Councilmember Strigel.

Motions to move to closed session or to table the issue did not go anywhere. The motion to execute the existing agreement between Mrs. Johnson and the City of Victoria in the amount of $182,000 passed 4-1 with Councilmember Pavelko casting the dissenting vote. There was no further adjustment to the purchase price with respect to the assessment or the accrued interest.

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It was in 2003 that downtown Victoria underwent a $2.5 million project that brought in new streets, curb and gutter, sidewalks, and storm sewer, street lighting, boulevard trees, brick pavers, tree gates, and other downtown improvements including buried utilities. The city picked up 80% of the total cost.

Most of the downtown properties assessed were commercial, not single family homes. At the time, Mayor Jerry Bohn had said, "We want downtown retail, not residential downtown. We can't afford it anymore. We want multi-housing downtown, not single family housing."

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JIM BAUCK

VISITS VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Jim Bauck, Superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools, presented the case at a Victoria City Council meeting on September 23rd for approving two referendum questions which will be on the ballot for residents on Tuesday, November 5th.

The first question will ask residents for approval to renew an existing $9.1 million referendum levy. Mr. Bauck said that renewing that levy will not increase taxes.

The second referendum question will ask residents for approval to spend additional revenue ($2.45 million) for security and technology. This levy, which is contingent on the approval of the first question, will increase taxes.

Mr. Bauck was accompanied and supported by several members of the School District who also visited Victoria that evening, including the principal of Victoria Elementary School and IT staff.

Said Mr. Bauck, "Our community has received good recognition and so has our school district because of where we've been and where we're going. Personalized learning will improve student learning. Our ACT score are trending upward. We are saving money in several ways, including through partnerships with other schools and using propane in our buses."

"What is a referendum?" he asked. "We have to ask taxpayers for increases in taxes." He said the School District is 76% funded by state dollars, 19% by local taxpayers, 3% by federal dollars, and 2% by other sources.

"The existing referendum sunsets in 10 years," said Mr. Bauck. "We're asking to renew the 2003 operating levy, otherwise we have to trim $9 million from our budget." He said that 80% of the District's day to day operating cost is employees, and 73% of those employees are teachers so teachers are affected by a loss of revenue.

He said the second question is a six-year question, with security being the focus in the first year and technology in the subsequent years. "Why now?" he asked. "To maintain what we have. About 25% of our computers are seven years or older. It's getting harder and harder to repair parts ... It's not the tool kit that is going to improve learning, but how we teach and what we teach ... We will have 70 sixth graders in algebra next year. Kids gravitate through the curriculum because they can ... We have ten schools in the District. Schools with devices score higher on math tests ... These referendum questions are critical for personal student learning. It's our school, our District, our students, our decision. I appreciate that you gave me this time."

Handout information indicated that the average price home in the School District has an estimated market value of $285,000. With the approval of the referendum questions, taxes on that home would increase by $135/year. A home valued at $485,000 would see a tax increase of $240/year.

Mayor Tom O'Connor said that he and City Manager Don Uram had the opportunity to visit Victoria Elementary School this spring. Speaking to residents, he said, "I encourage you to walk through the building. Inform your conclusions. We are a growing community. We want to stay a growing community. We want good schools, at the right price."

Click here to continue School Referendum.