VOTE TODAY!

Support District 622’s Request to Renew: A no-tax increase proposal

The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District will have a no-tax increase levy renewal on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To find your polling place, visithttp://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.

This is a no‐tax increase request that simply renews an existing operating levy that is expiring. That means that property owners will not see an increase in their taxes if the levy is renewed.
Why is the levy renewal important to School District 622:

• The current levy will expire after taxes payable in 2012.
• If not renewed, District 622 will lose $10 million a year in funding.
• Failure to renew the levy, which generates $10 million per year would negatively impact the District’s ability to provide the strong schools that 96.6 percent of people surveyed felt were important to a strong community.

State Rep. Leon Lillie

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Minnesota House of Representatives

District 55A 651-296-1188 – rep.leon.lillie@house.mn

281 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155

CONTACT:

Ted Modrich (651-296-5809)

October 27, 2011

Supporting District 622

Dear Neighbors,

A strong, successful public school is absolutely essential to the future success of our state and community. A good education can pull people out of poverty, make it easier for people to find work, and a well-educated workforce attracts new businesses to our state. I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of a great education from our great local District 622. My family and I have greatly benefited from the stable, healthy and academically-challenging school system we have in District 622.  My parents, siblings, wife, all my kids and all of my nieces and nephews have gone through District 622 and found a lifetime of success after graduation. 

Our teachers and staff do a great job educating the young people of our community and play a vital role in making this area a great place to live and raise a family. I strongly support District 622's effort to renew the existing operating levy. Because this is a renewal of an existing levy, any property tax increase will not be a result of the approval of this levy.

I hope you will join me and vote yes on November 8th to enable the District to continue its good work.

Sincerely,

Leon Lillie

State Representative

District 55A

Lit drop for endorsed Maplewood City Council candidates

Up Coming Event

Saturday November 5, 2011 targeted literature drop for DFL endorsed Maplewood City Council candidates Marv Koppen and John Nephew. This will be held at 1400 Currie Street in Maplewood. This is being hosted by Scott and Julie Waslick. Donuts and Beverages at 9:00 and lunch provided after door knocking.

This will be the last event to help get out the vote for John and Marv. Please pass this on to your friends and bring them with you. Let's get together on this last big push before the election on November 8th.

Call Peter Fischer if you want to drop some literature, but can not make it on November 5th. I will make arrangements to get you a route to drop at another time that will work for you.

For more information contact Peter Fischer @ 651-770-4984

Also check out our blog at www.http://sd55dfl.blogspot.com/ for more information on what is happening.

Thank you for your help!

Peter Fischer

Chair Senate District 55 DFL

ISD 622 No-Tax Increase Levy Renewal

School District 622 is having a levy referendum this fall to continue and existing voter approved levy. Here are some quick tips to help provide information.

Approving this request will not increase your property taxes.

If levy is not renewed the school district will have to cut $10 million dollars from its budget. This means they would lose $833 per student and would be one of the few school districts in the state without a voter-approved operating levy. This equals about 150 teaching positions. The district would have to eliminate programs that help struggling students, would face significant staff reductions, would be unable to keep computers and technology up to date for all students and would face even greater cuts to the overall education program.

During the past several years, District 622 has been “beating the odds,” narrowing the achievement gap and helping struggling students succeed. A successful levy would allow the district to continue this forward progress by maintaining its current programs, including those that help struggling students.

The current levy brings in $833 per pupil. The following shows how ISD 622 compares to other area school districts:
2011-2012 Levy Comparison
Roseville - $1,575
Bloomington - $1,550
Mounds View - $1,523
Robbinsdale - $1,522
White Bear Lake - $1,502
Burnsville - $1,476
Stillwater - $996
South Washington County - $929
School District 622 - $833
Forest Lake - $725

For more information go to www.citizensfor622.org

Please join me in voting for this levy renewal.

Thanks.

Peter Fischer

P.S. To find your precinct follow this link http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/  

Loss of Renters Credit

We hear about the upcoming cuts to the tax credit that renters get from the State of Minnesota. The following is some information that helps explain what happened.

In 2011, the Republicans slashed the Renters’ Credit for nearly 300,000 renters – including 82,000 seniors and disabled. The initial Republican proposal that passed off the House Floor would have meant an average cut of $300 per renter but the Special Session bill pared the cut down to an average of $87 – still significant for seniors and others on a fixed income.

Additionally, the Republicans' elimination of the Homestead Credit will lead to significantly higher property taxes on rental properties, which will in turn almost certainly lead to higher rent just as the Renters' Credit is being cut.

Legislators often hear testimony in committee that seniors use the Renters' Credit for larger one-time annual purchases, like a new pair of prescription glasses. Is this really how we want to balance the budget?

This is troublesome for me. Why is it that the Republicans in the State legislature ask seniors, students and other rents to give up their tax credits and pay more in rent instead of asking the richest of the rich to give up some of their tax breaks and pay the same as middle class families do?