This Just In...
Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “INTERchange,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Franklin.
*FRANKLIN'S ACTUAL SCHOOL TAX LEVY INCREASE NOT WHAT THE PUBLIC WAS TOLD*
By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Dec 10 2007, 05:12 PM
The school tax levy increase approved by the Franklin School Board is 11.7% and NOT 5.9% as citizens were told the night in October the Board adopted the 2007-08 school district budget.
The 11.7% school tax levy increase is based on a follow-up I did with the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WTA) that, as I blogged last week, issued a report outlining the school tax levy increases for every school district in the state. Franklin’s was listed as 11.7%.
The WTA gets its figures from the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The DPI gets its numbers from the Franklin School District.
In a discussion I had with WTA Research Director Dale Knapp, he informed me that he double-checked the numbers with the DPI and the 11.7% figure is correct.
Knapp told me that analyzing the expenditure figures for Franklin, there is now way the tax levy increase could work out to 5.9%. Knapp told me the correct figure could only be somewhere between 11 and 13 %.
In a memo dated November 29, 2007 to the Franklin Mayor and Aldermen, Franklin Director of Finance and Treasurer Calvin Patterson writes, in part:
“All taxing jurisdictions have provided the required information to calculate the combined tax rates for the year 2007 tax bills.
The Oak Creek-Franklin school district has the largest percentage tax levy increase of 13.2% and as a result has the largest tax rate increase of 12.9%. The Franklin school district had the next largest percentage tax levy increase of 11.7% and as a result had the next largest tax rate increase of 9.2%.”
Over the weekend, I asked Franklin School Board President Dave Szychlinski to investigate the discrepancy in the numbers. He said he would get back to me and I trust he will, but hasn’t as of 5:00 this afternoon. Here is part of his e-mail to me:
I just saw your posting about the Taxpayers Alliance Report. Very curious. At the October Board meeting, we approved a total equalizedtax levy rate increase of 5.9%. I can assure you that I will ask JimMilzer and the business office to clarify for me on Monday. I'm notsure who is counting what..or if it's apples to apples...and while I don't have my budget documents here....I do remember that the budget document we received indicated +5.9%
dave
This issue raises some very serious questions:
1) How did Franklin school district business manager Jim Milzer arrive at the 5.9% figure?
2) Were the Franklin School Board members advised they were voting on a 5.9% school tax levy increase, and if so, why?
3) Didn’t the Franklin School Board members know what they were voting for?
4) Can the Franklin School Board go back and correct this error?
This is extremely serious.
It reminds me of the Milwaukee County Board approving outrageous pensions, only to plead ignorance later, claiming they had no idea what they were voting for.
The WTA stands by their numbers. The city of Franklin has issued a memo quoting the 11.7% figure.
The 11.7% figure is DOUBLE the increase that the Franklin citizenry, and quite possibly, the Franklin School Board, was told the levy increase was going to be.
It is plausible that the Board, and subsequently, the taxpaying public were issued FALSE information.
In that case, there needs to be accountability. If Jim Milzer gave false information to voting members of the Board, he should resign or be terminated.
An increase of 5.9% was inexcusable. An actual increase of 11.7% when the public was promised for several weeks that the increase would be 5.6% is misconduct in office.
I anxiously await Dave Szychlinkski’s findings.
