GROWING — Thousands of people turned out Saturday for the third annual Shootout in Three Lakes, a radar run and fly-in sponsored by the Three Lakes Fire Department. Proceeds have been earmarked for construction of a second fire station on the east side of the Three Lakes Chain. Here, a massive speedboat approaches the marina area.--Staff Photo By KURT KRUEGER

Plan to eliminate levy credits
could hurt rural taxpayers

By Kurt Krueger
News-Review Editor

It’s too early to tell whether the latest school funding reform plan from State Superintendent Tony Evers would help or hurt property-rich, income-poor rural school districts here.

While his push to roll nearly $900 million in school levy tax credits into general school aids would mean higher tax bills in the Northland Pines, Three Lakes and Phelps districts, other adjustments to the aid formula that haven’t been quantified may offset the lost credits.

Evers is suggesting that student poverty be a factor in the formula, not just property values, something school administrators here have been urging for decades.

But he hasn’t talked specifics on what extent income would be a factor, and he’s been similarly vague on expanding sparsity aid and transportation funding to help rural districts.

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