A number of years ago I was on a commercial airline flight preparing to land in Milwaukee. Almost on the ground, the plane suddenly accelerated and I felt the engines at full force as they were attempting to quickly counteract the momentum of descent. Seasoned flyers, like myself, knew something was wrong while others seemed unconcerned. The engines finally overcame the momentum of descent and we began to climb as the runway was left behind. About ten minutes later, the pilot finally made an announcement that started out with, “Folks, sorry for the delay, but as you can imagine, we’ve been a little busy up here. We have missed approach to the runway and will have to circle back in order to land safely.”
Guthrie Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson
I must confess, I’m sorry for the delay in my monthly article but we’ve been a little busy up here. As you may have heard, the Logan County Assessor lowered the property tax assessment ratio for the county from 12 percent to 11 percent. If you are a property owner in Logan County, this may sound like good news. Since the announcement on December 31, the district staff has been working hard to fully understand the impact this action will have on our school district. According to state law, any tax proceeds assessed above 11 percent in any county stay with the school districts in that county and are not subject to the equalization of funds by the school funding formula. Consequently, the action of the Assessor removes funds directly from the school district budget without any option of state assistance. A team of experts in school finance have estimated those losses in both building and general fund revenue to be in excess of $400,000 for GPS. Our Assessor spoke of estimated losses in revenue to the school district ranging between $100,000 and $300,000. In a meeting recently with school officials from across the county and our assessor, the estimate was listed at $340,000. It has never been made clear how the estimates from the county were derived. Regardless, the effects of this cut will be felt in the 2014-15 school year.
It is no secret over the last year the school district has been working on a long range facility plan which the entire community could support. All options considered have been with the belief that there would be a bonding capacity of $13 million. The actions of the Assessor lower the capacity to issue bonds to $11.8 million. The difference of $1.2 million takes our capacity below the architects estimated cost of an elementary school building. When developing a long range plan, you make several assumptions including the cost of inflation for construction in the event that all parts of the plan are not affordable in the beginning. That current figure is 8.5 percent annually. As we all know, most of what we would like to do today will cost more tomorrow. This means less will have to be proposed and inflation could greatly limit what can be done in future projects. When asked, the Assessor said bonding capacity was not a consideration in any decisions made by her office regarding the county assessment ratio.
The great people who have served on the Long Range Planning Committee for the school district have given much of their time and effort to help the children of Guthrie. My hope is that like the flying experience I described above, the patrons of the Guthrie Public School district are seasoned flyers that know what is going on, not the others who were unconcerned. While we may have missed approach, we will circle and land safely.
While this has a great impact on Guthrie it will impact all Logan Co schools. But most importantly it impacts S Logan co. they are the ones wants a new school built on the South end of our county. It is a shame this has happened. I will be making sure of whom I vote in office and will be actively campaigning for someone who promote growth and development in our community. I pay property taxes in Edmond and try to do my part to keep there schools running all the while living in Logan co.and working here. This is a tragedy for our district and community. SHAME on You Trish Hampton.
The worse part of the whole deal is the lack of respect shown by Ms. Hampton. To make this unilateral move without a heads up or warning after schools had been let out for Christmas break, shows I believe the malicious intent. I voted for this lady, based on some recommendations of other people I respect, now I understand she is apparently taking orders from Jason Murphey. We know Jason Murphey hates public education, I say vote them both out asap.
Saving the tax payers money is a good thing! (Steve)Now it’s up to Mr. Simpsons to put his big boy paints on and do his job. If guthrie school system was rated higher or a good place to send your kids. maybe more people would want to send there kids here and build more houses, which means more tax dollars. Mr. Simpson should be trying to increase the radius of the school district to bring in more tax revene. Everything south of Simpson road ( south of guthrie ) goes to Edmond and so does the tax money..What we need is a better superintendent that can get a bond passed without all the crying.. Execute a plan, explain it to the pepole then let them vote. Ther are also fed grants available but you have to apply for them, get of butt, make a difference ..So sick of Simpson whining all the damn time.
I couldn’t agree more St.
We’ll Guys this is a new Simpson the old one was Terry and our new Sup is Mike. They are not related but have the same name. I am not sure but I think the state sets our boundaries.
When our taxes were lowered it also lowered our bounding capacity. The way the State has graded our schools doesn’t fit the way our schools are set up. We have had several Academic All Americans. We have a very good Education system would but it against any system. Our children deserve much better.
“What we have here is a failure to communicate,” a line taken from an old movie. What we really have here is one of the biggest Ponzi schemes ever developed; its called “but its for the children” and what it is really about is lining their pockets with gold. How many citizens in Ok. know that the state budget this year is 6.7 billion dollars and public ed. represents 51% of the state budget or in real figures, 3.4 billion dollars? I’m sorry but this is outrageous; something is wrong!! The reason I call this a Ponzi scheme is because when you look at the breakdown of dollars little goes to our children, the brunt of the budget is for the administration of public schools. How many citizens know that we have 77 counties in the state YET we have apx, 557 superintendents (?); in Logan County we have four (4) super’s and that does not count any ass’t super’s or principles. Is it just me or does anyone else think that maybe we have too much administrative cost. Oh by the way, how many citizens know how much money (Dr.) Simpson collects annually? Let me share this; for 2013-14 we are talking $115,077 PLUS a benefit package which would make Lenin blush, to the tune of $30,735 dollars. Now I know he’s a Dr. and all that but it is important to put this in perspective. First he is an “educator” therefore it sorta goes hand in hand with the job and second this level of achievement falls right in line with many others who own businesses but there is a major difference; he is spending someone else’s money and when he gets home at the end of the day, it is okay to turn the brain off, unfortunately it doesn’t work the same for the local entrepreneur, who can never get mentally away from business and the money he spends is out of his own pocket; let me tell you there is a BIG difference; Only a few business owners earn $145,812 dollars annually (guaranteed) and when the economy slows down the first to take a hit in annual income is the “owner” because the smaller amount of revenue must go into the infrastructure “FIRST” because that is why or the purpose of being in business. Too bad our public education system does work under the same principles!!!
Its about time the property owners get a break…It’s not our sole responsibility to support everything. There has got to be a better way and as a property owner I think its time that people who rent start paying their fair share to help educate their children. And what about all the illegals that live in this county that we are supporting they aren’t paying their share either.