Overture deal would cost taxpayers extra $500K a year, study says.

Welcome to the next black hole for Madison property owners and add it to the list I have created in blogs below.  Thank you Mayor Dave!

Madison taxpayers would add roughly another half-million dollars in average annual maintenance costs to the $1.4 million a year they now contribute to the Overture Center if the city takes ownership of the arts center as proposed, according to a report presented Thursday by an aide to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

Some members of an advisory committee on the purchase plan are asking if more of the costs could be picked up by private donors who are expected to back a nonprofit group to operate the center.

The report projects maintenance costs of $19.3 million over the next 15 years, with the city responsible for $9.78 million and the operator responsible for $9.54 million, said Andrew Statz, the aide who led a group of experts in cataloging the center’s needs.

At issue is about $4.4 million of the total that the report splits evenly between the city and the operator, pending negotiations over who should pick up the tab for the items.

Continue The Momentum for School Funding Reform

Now it is our turn to step forward. A “Penny for Kids” will help to provide for our children and maintain the high quality of life that our communities deserve.

Sign the "Penny for Kids" petition to tell Wisconsin legislators that our schools need their attention now and a penny-for-kids sales tax increase is a good way to start.

Go to: http://www.apennyforkids.org/   To sign the petition.
http://www.apennyforkids.org/the-need.html - The need.
http://www.apennyforkids.org/who-we-are.html - Who we are.

Dane County Board Urges State Action on School Reform

Our momentum in finding new ways to fund public schools is progressing.  See attached press release from Thursday, 9/16/2010 County Board meeting:

Dane County Board Urges State Action on School Reform

---- Press Advisory ----

For Immediate Release: For More Information Contact:
September 16, 2010 Supervisor Melissa Sargent (220-2273)

Dane County Board Urges State Action on School Reform

This evening the Dane County Board of Supervisors enthusiastically approved a resolution urging the Wisconsin Legislature to make comprehensive changes in the way schools are funded. The Board encouraged the Legislature to consider revenue sources other than the local property tax to support the diverse needs of students and school districts.

“I hear over and over again from Dane County residents that investing in education is a priority, said County Board Supervisor Melissa Sargent, District 18, the primary sponsor of the resolution. “However, people tell me they do not like the overreliance on property taxes to fund education – pitting homeowners against children,” she added.

For the last 17 years, the state funding formula has produced annual shortfalls resulting in program cuts to schools. In 2009-2010, cuts in state aid resulted in a net loss of over $14 million in state support for students in Dane County, shifting the cost of education increasingly to property taxpayers. More and more districts are forced to rely on either program cuts or sometimes divisive referenda. In fact, voters rejected school referendums in five districts Tuesday, while just two were approved.

“The future of our children and our community is dependent on the development of an equitable system for funding public education; a system the recognizes the diverse needs of our children and does not put the funding burden on the backs of our taxpayers, said Madison Metropolitan School Board member Arlene Silvera. “I appreciate the leadership of the County Board in raising awareness of this critical need and in lobbying our state legislators to make this happen,” she said.

Dane County Proposed Budget - Includes Property Tax Increases

Now Dane County Wants To Tax Property Owners.  Read below:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_21e26037-51f5-55b8-a326-1ec232d2c760.html?mode=story

Contact the Dane Conty Board and Kathleen Falk and tell them that property taxes are out of control and that they need to establish a fair/shared sales tax increase - otherwise - this will continue to bankrupt homeowners.  Contact info below:

county_board_recipients@co.dane.wi.us  (All supervisers)

Falk@co.dane.wi.us   (Ms. Falk)

START NOW!