The County's Worst Kept Secret

...A levy isn't needed.

Pocahontas County gets funding for 1400 students even though its actual student load is nearer 1200.  What this means is that Pocahontas County gets the funds from the state to support 1400 students but only has to support 1200 students.

Senator Walt Helmick was involved in this scheme to help sparsely populated counties maintain their operational funds.

The proposed levy is smoke and mirrors.  

For example, who every heard of giving people a free ticket to a ball game if they voted for a levy. 

The state funds the local school system many thousands of dollars were student. 

 In fact, Pocahontas County gets approximately $750,000 extra for students above and beyond its actual expenditures.  This is the reason that since 2008 the county has been able to pay exorbitant salaries to board office personnel.

See below:

... (5) For any county whose net enrollment as determined under all other provisions of this definition is less than one thousand four hundred, the net enrollment of the county shall be increased by the product of the following calculation:

(A) The difference between one thousand four hundred and the net enrollment of the county as determined by all of the other provisions of this definition multiplied by the reciprocal of the county's student population density per square mile as a percent of the state average; and

(B) The result for the county under paragraph (A) multiplied by one half for counties with five or more students in net enrollment per square mile in the county, or multiplied by three fourths for counties with two or more but less than five students in net enrollment per square mile in the county, or multiplied by one for counties with less than two students in net enrollment per square mile in the county . 

(j) "Sparse-density county" means a county whose ratio of net enrollment, excluding any increase in the net enrollment of counties pursuant to subdivision (5) of the definition of net enrollment, to the square miles of the county is less than five; 

(k) "Low-density county" means a county whose ratio of net enrollment, excluding any increase in the net enrollment of counties pursuant to subdivision (5) of the definition of net enrollment, to the square miles of the county is equal to or greater than five but less than ten;

(l) "Medium-density county" means a county whose ratio of net enrollment, excluding any increase in the net enrollment of counties pursuant to subdivision (5) of the definition of net enrollment, to the square miles of the county is equal to or greater than ten but less than twenty; 

(m) "High-density county" means a county whose ratio of net enrollment, excluding any increase in the net enrollment of counties pursuant to subdivision (5) of the definition of net enrollment, to the square miles of the county is equal to or greater than twenty;

(j) (n) "Levies for general current expense purposes" means ninety-four percent of the levy rate for county boards of education calculated or set by the Legislature pursuant to the provisions of section six-f, article eight, chapter eleven of this code: Provided,That beginning the first day of July, two thousand eight, "levies for general current expense purposes" means ninety percent of the levy rate for county boards of education calculated or set by the Legislature pursuant to the provisions of section six-f, article eight, chapter eleven of this code: Provided, however, That effective the first day of July, two thousand ten, the definitions set forth in this subsection are subject to the provisions of section two-a of this article.

§18-9A-3a. Total state basic foundation program for fiscal years 2009 through 2011, only.

(1) For the school year beginning on the first day of July, two thousand eight, and thereafter, no county shall receive an allowance for an amount in excess of service personnel per one thousand students in net enrollment, as follows:

(A) For each high-density county, the number of personnel for which a county shall receive the allowance shall not exceed forty-three and ninety-seven one hundredths service personnel per one thousand students in net enrollment;

(B) For each medium-density county, the number of personnel for which a county shall receive the allowance shall not exceed forty-four and fifty-three one hundredths service personnel per one thousand students in net enrollment;

(C) For each low-density county, the number of personnel for which a county shall receive the allowance shall not exceed forty-five and one tenth service personnel per one thousand students in net enrollment; and

(D) For each sparse-density county, the number of personnel for which a county shall receive the allowance shall not exceed forty-five and sixty-eight one hundredths service personnel per one thousand students in net enrollment: and 

§18-9A-6. Foundation allowance for fixed charges.

The total allowance for fixed charges shall be the sum of the following:

(1) The sum of the foundation allowance for professional educators and the foundation allowance for other personnel, as determined in sections four and five above four, five and eight of this article , multiplied by the current social security rate of contribution; plus

(2) The sum of the foundation allowance for professional educators and the foundation allowance for other personnel, as determined in sections four and five above four, five and eight of this article , multiplied by four hundredths of one percent as an allowance for unemployment compensation contribution ; plus

(3) The sum of the foundation allowance for professional educators and the foundation allowance for other personnel, as determined in sections four and five above four, five and eight of this article , multiplied by the rate which is derived by dividing the total estimated contributions for workers' compensation for all county boards by the sum of the foundation allowance for professional educators and other personnel, as determined in sections four and five above four, five and eight of this article . The total estimated contribution for workers compensation is determined by multiplying each county board's allowance for professional educators and other personnel, as determined by sections four and five above four, five and eight of this article , by the county's actual contribution rate by using data of the most recent year for which it is available ; plus

(4) The teachers retirement fund allowance as determined in section six-a of this article.

18-9A-7. Foundation allowance for transportation cost.
(a) The allowance in the foundation school program for each county for transportation shall be the sum of the following computations:

(1) A percentage of the transportation costs incurred by the county for maintenance, operation and related costs exclusive of all salaries, including the costs incurred for contracted transportation services and public utility transportation, as follows:

(A) For each high-density county, eighty-seven and one half percent;

(B) For each medium-density county, ninety percent;

(C) For each low-density county, ninety-two and one half percent; 

(D) For each sparse-density county, ninety-five percent; (E) For any county for the transportation cost for maintenance, operation and related costs, exclusive of all salaries, for transporting students to and from classes at a multi-county vocational center, the percentage provided in paragraphs (A) through (D) of this subdivision as applicable for the county plus an additional ten percent; and

(2) The total cost, within each county, of insurance premiums on buses, buildings and equipment used in transportation; Provided, That the premiums were procured through competitive bidding;

(3) An amount equal to eight and one-third percent of the current replacement value of the bus fleet within each county as determined by the state board. The amount shall only be used for the replacement of buses. Buses purchased after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, that are driven one hundred eighty thousand miles, regardless of year model, will be subject to the replacement value of eight and one-third percent as determined by the state board. Provided, That for the school year beginning on the first day of July, two thousand four, only, the allowance in the foundation school program for each county for transportation shall not include an amount for the replacement of buses. In addition, in any school year in which its net enrollment increases when compared to the net enrollment the year immediately preceding, a school district may apply to the state superintendent for funding for an additional bus or buses. The state superintendent shall make a decision regarding each application based upon an analysis of the individual school district's net enrollment history and transportation needs: Provided, however, That the superintendent shall not consider any application which fails to document that the county has applied for federal funding for additional buses. If the state superintendent finds that a need exists, a request for funding shall be included in the budget request submitted by the state board for the upcoming fiscal year; and

(a) T he basic foundation allowance to the county for professional student support personnel shall be the amount of money required to pay the state minimum salaries, in accordance with provisions of article four, chapter eighteen-a of this code, to the personnel employed in the following enumerated positions and subject to the following limitations : 

(1) For school nurse, no county shall receive an allowance for the personnel which number is in excess of one nurse to each one thousand five hundred students in net enrollment;

(2) For counselor, no county shall receive an allowance for the personnel which number is in excess of one counselor to each three hundred fifty students in net enrollment ; and

(3) For technology systems specialist, no county shall receive an allowance for the personnel which number is in excess of one technology systems specialist to each two thousand five hundred students in net enrollment.

(b) Any county not qualifying under the provisions of subsection (a) for the maximum allowance for personnel is eligible for a growth rate in professional personnel in any one year not to exceed twenty-five percent of its total potential increase in personnel to achieve the maximum under subsection (a), except that in no case shall the limit be fewer than five professionals.