Note: These responses were crafted in response to the SF 453 and SF 978 delete all omnibus bills moved by Committee Chairs Senator Wiger and Senator Torres Ray. MREA made every attempt to track all the amendments, but this may not be all inclusive. Click here to track this bill, but ignore the introductory version from February. MREA supports the direction … Read More
School Finance Check In: Underreach?
By Vernae Hasbargen, MREA Lobbyist As the bill outline came into focus this week, MinnPost headlined, “Education advocates fearing DFL ‘under-reach.” All session Democratic majorities have resisted Republican predictions they would “over-reach” with too many tax increases and new spending obligations. Democrats, on the other hand, were determined to pay off the state’s $1.1 billion debt, get the state’s budget on sound footing, and pay for some … Read More
MREA Map Shows Tax Relief and Equalization in SF 453
MREA released map today showing the tax relief and equalization in SF 453. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. SF 453 replaces nearly $34 million in Operating Referendum Levies with State Equalization dollars: Raises Tier 1 Equalization Factor to $586,000, a 13% increase Lowers Tier 2 Equalization Factor to $259,000, a 4% decrease SF 453 Tax Impact on … Read More
MREA Map Shows Impact of HF 630
MREA released a map today showing the tax relief and equalization in HF 630. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. HF 630 replaces $28 million in Operating Referendum Levies with State Equalization dollars: Creates Referendum Market Value Equalization Factor (RMVEF) RMVEF will float with state total RMV value and state total PU’s so it maintains somewhat close to current … Read More
MREA Map Shows Impact of House Omnibus Bill
MREA released a map today showing the tax relief and equalization in HF 630. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. HF 630 replaces $28 million in Operating Referendum Levies with State Equalization dollars: Creates Referendum Market Value Equalization Factor (RMVEF) RMVEF will float with state total RMV value and state total PU’s so it maintains somewhat close to current … Read More
Omnibus E-12 Bill Rolls Out This Week
The 2013 legislative session must end six weeks from Monday. We are now entering the final phase of this budget setting session. The last phase begins with the major finance committee piecing their omnibus budget bills together. Most policy reforms will be carried in these bills as well. That is especially true in education where major reforms in assessments, teacher … Read More
MREA Releases Map on Tax Relief and Equalization in EAR
MREA released a map today showing the tax relief and equalization or EAR. Education Enhancement Revenue (EAR) – SF 177 as amended- provides, Tax Relief, Tax Equalization, and Closing the 5th to 95th Gap in Funding per Student. A thumbnail is provided below. View this interactive map by clicking here. What does EAR do? Provides a base $300 per student … Read More
Will Legislature Act on Teacher Health Insurance?
By Vernae Hasbargen, MREA Lobbyist Already this year the legislature has created the health insurance exchange MNsure required by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). A big accomplishment. Next will be handling an issue which has been on the legislature’s plate for nearly 10 years – – teacher health insurance. Bills have made their way through many committees and how it … Read More
Simplifying Operation Revenue Formulas and Student Calculations
By Fred Nolan, MREA Executive Director Both open enrollment and districts’ reliance on voter approved referendums are aspects of Minnesota’s education that have grown exponentially over the past 20 years. The Finance Working Group recommends a simplification to integrate these two systems and allow districts to receive voter approved referendum revenue based on the students they serve starting in FY … Read More
Map Shows Taxpayer Effort to Raise $1,000 Per Pupil
MREA released a map today that shows the taxpayer effort to raise the average operating revenue to $1,000 per pupil (RMCPU) in Minnesota. At a $1,000 voter approve operating referendum revenue per pupil, two-thirds of school districts’ taxpayers in the state are in the highest level of tax effort required. Nearly all of those districts are in rural Minnesota. A thumbnail … Read More