Earlier today, in Another Greater Minnesota newspaper gives Republican chutzpah the thumbs down, Bluestem posted the reaction of the New Ulm Journal's editorial board to Representative Pat Garofalo and Steve Drazkowski's meddling with local school districts' plan to ask voters for new levies.
Reading around the state, BSP has read yet another editorial giving the thumbs down to state level meddling with local districts. In Lawmaker against all these school levies, a short take for Friday, the Marshall Independent's board writes:
THUMBS DOWN: State Rep. Patrick Garofalo, a Republican from Farmington, is ready to go all out in a campaign against schools seeking levies, saying schools in Minnesota recently received a $50-per-pupil increase. He says the property tax shouldn't be used for schools "to go back for a second bite of the apple." We understand his position, especially considering about one-third of schools in Minnesota plan levy elections in November, but he needs to remember that school officials aren't exactly thrilled about the notion of having to put levies on the ballot, not in a time when property taxes are already destined to go up. In many cases, schools know that asking the public to pony up more money isn't very popular. Besides, in the end, referendum decisions are left up to those voters, who can prevent school boards from, as Garofalo put it, "fleecing" taxpayers by voting against levies. State lawmakers should stay out of it; don't they have enough to deal with at the Capitol? They should focus their energy on finding new ways to help schools and save them from having to dig deeper into the pockets of taxpayers.
The paper is right: local voters don't rubber stamp school districts' requests. For Garofalo to assert that school boards are out to fleece taxpayers is tomfoolery.
Elsewhere in the paper, Per Petersonn reports in Should state meddle in school levies? that State Senator Gary Dahms is having none of it:
State Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, who is the chairman of the House Education Finance Committee, isn't happy about the fact that about one-third of school districts in Minnesota are going after levies this fall for additional operating revenue and criticized schools for going after a "second bite of the apple." State Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, has reportedly sent a newsletter to constituents asking them to contact school officials about proposed levy referendums and "urge them to drop their request."
District 21A Sen. Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls, said it's not his place to tell any school official what to do or how to handle their money issues.
"Representative Garofalo can do what he wants to, but I think our area superintendents and school boards and administration know what's best for their schools," Dahms said. "Of all the schools I visited in the 21st District I can't say that I know of any of them that aren't doing a good job in running their finances. For me to say anything about their finances, that's not my position."
Dahms' remarks parallel those made by the Emo Senator Mike Parry. Could their remarks signal a split between the House and State Republican Caucuses on this issue, or is the Dark Lord, Senate Majority Leader/Comm Head and Deputy Republican State Chair Michael Brodkorb simply smarter than a barrel of Drazkowskis
Photo: Pat Garofalo.
Related posts: Another Greater Minnesota newspaper gives Republican chutzpah the thumbs down
Steve Drazkowski plays victim card, personalizes debate with Winona Daily News
Following Drazkowski's shameful lead, MN House Republicans to oppose school levies
The shame of southeast Minnesota: Drazkowski tells constituents to starve local public school
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