In response to Jeff Forester’s April 3, 2010 letter pertaining to seasonal/recreation property taxes and David Stuart’s generous efforts to engage seasonal/recreation property owners in supporting education beyond passive property tax levies. I began as Cook County School District superintendent in July 2009 and have reviewed Mr. Stuart’s letters, sent to seasonal/recreation property owners in January 2009 and 2010.
In Stuart’s 2010
letter, he makes general reference to the 2001 legislative change for seasonal/recreation property taxes and its impact on our school district. It is true that this change resulted in a substantial reduction in the taxes received from seasonal/recreation property owners. Stuart’s 2009
letter attempts to describe this change in law. Stuart’s explanation in his 2009 letter may not have been completely clear, but did, in fact, accurately reflect the restructuring of the seasonal/recreation property tax change. To state that Stuart’s letter was “absolutely false” was an unjustifiable attack on his character.
The comparison made between St. Louis County and Cook County taxes is not
an appropriate assessment. The letter implies that St. Louis County School District receives $1,914 from a seasonal/ recreation property owner with a property value of $357,210, while Cook County School District receives $1,130 from a Cook County homestead owner with a property value of $371,100. This is far from accurate! Every school district in Minnesota has different property tax revenues. In Cook County, most of the property taxes go to Cook County and the cities/townships of Cook County because the district does not currently have an operating referendum in place. Cook County School District (I.S.D. 166) receives the following from district property owners:
The school tax paid on a $300,000 home by a residential owner for 2010 is $87. (Referendum market value tax of $46 and school levy of $41.)
Theschool tax paid on a $300,000 home by a seasonal owner for 2010 is $60. (Seasonal/recreation owners pay no
referendum market value tax to the school district. The entire $60 is school levy revenue.)
The reason the seasonal/recreation owner pays more for the school levy is that the homestead property levy is partially offset by homestead credits, but note that the total
tax support is higher for the residential owner. This may not be true in other districts, but it is in ISD 166.
While seasonal/recreation owners pay both levy and bond taxes, they do not pay taxes on school operating referendums. This revenue is collected solely from residential taxpayers.
Cook County’s aging population requires a strong educational system which produces students with excellent skills and character. As the average resident age continues to increase, Cook County is going to need nurses, doctors, service professionals, mechanics, etc. Additionally, we need to attract and retain young families to maintain a strong economy. Progressive educational systems have proven time and time again to result in lower juvenile crime, stronger economies and graduates who are better prepared to go into the work force or onto post-secondary training.
David Stuart and several other seasonal/recreation property owners have stepped up to help. Their contributions are truly appreciated and needed. In return, I promise to work with the I.S.D. School Board, employees and community to build on our strong educational foundation. Ariel and Will Durant’s quote, “Education is the transmission of civilization,”
reminds us that we all need to work together in order to help sustain a vibrant and progressive living environment in all of Cook County.
Beth A. Schwarz
Superintendent ISD 166
Leave a Reply