Verona school board opposes Amendment 5

The Verona Board of Education has taken a stand opposing Amendment 5 in the upcoming Aug. 4 election. The board warned patrons that tax reform promised by the Republican-dominated General Assembly that advanced the measure will negatively impact local schools. 

The Mt. Vernon school board opted against taking a stand on Amendment 5. Like Mt. Vernon, Verona schools are seeing declining enrollment. According to Melody Whitehead, Verona superintendent, available information painted a picture that did not look positive for smaller, rural districts. 

Amendment 5 calls for the repeal of state income tax and allows lawmakers to authorize other tax revenue in its place. 

“The resolution was approved by the board because Verona could lose $526,460 annually from the income tax the district collects,” Whitehead said. “Verona is funded 44 percent by state taxes, 40 percent by local taxes, and only 16 percent by federal taxes. Removing the income tax at the state level would cost the district 9 percent of its overall budget yearly.”

Whitehead calculated the loss of income tax revenue of $1,898 less per pupil. State funding to schools is based on the number of students calculated by the average daily attendance (ADA). 

“Since Verona has seen a drop in enrollment over the last 10 years, Amendment 5 would cause added hardship for the Verona school district,” Whitehead continued. “Staff would have to be cut. At this point, we have not had to cut staff due to decreased enrollment. We have been able to absorb positions as staff left for their own reasons.”

Whitehead observed the Verona school board is keenly aware how the lack of housing options in the community impacts school attendance. Due to careful planning and budget tightening, she noted, the district has not faced financial hardships. Teachers are receiving base pay of $40,000 a year in salary without relying on grants from the state, unlike Mt. Vernon. For the coming school year, the Verona board held pay steady but raised what it pays for insurance, which hadn’t been increased for several years. 

“Verona still has a healthy reserve since the district has been conservative with spending, but Amendment 5 would change everything for the district,” Whitehead stated. “We believe the district is the heart of the community, and the board felt if they passed the resolution [in opposition to Amendment 5], their community would listen and take heed as they go to vote in August. [The resolution in opposition] would at least give their community something to ponder and evaluate before they make their decision in the voting box.”