Flier violates school policy
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

School officials have blocked an attempt to get parents to contact their supervisors and urge them not to lower the property tax rate. The PTA at Crestwood Elementary School had planned to send a flier home to parents that said lowering the property tax rate "will take millions out of the school budget."

But, last week, School Community Relations Director Debra Marlow contacted all school principals reminding them that school policy forbids sending home "political campaign materials or materials that support or oppose political candidates, parties or issues" with students. The policy also bans distributing similar literature "during school hours, on a school bus by students, school board employees or others." She said it is also a violation of state law.

"We often remind principals of the policy during election years," said Marlow. Fliers carried home by students are restricted to official communication from the principal, PTA events and information from county libraries and the parks and recreation department.

About 65 percent of property taxes is earmarked for the school budget. If the board reduces the property tax rate from $1.04 per $100 of assessed value to 99 cents as proposed, the school system would lose about $10 million. However, according to the county budget office, the proposed budget adds $26 million more in local school funding while state and federal revenues provide schools with an even larger increase in funding.