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Suddenly the rest of the
State takes notice. This was reportedly sent out to 10,000 Minnesotans by email
on March 24, 2009
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March 24, 2009
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Duluth district to spend $407
million on new schools... without a vote
Like many large-scale
school facilities projects, the Duluth School District's Long
Range Facilities Project - commonly referred to as the "Red
Plan" - has been the subject of intense debate and
scrutiny. Residents have raised concerns about the
project's exorbitant price tag, a record-breaking $407 million
including interest. Many have questioned the district's
seemingly cozy relationship with the contractor in charge of the
Red Plan, Johnson Controls, Inc (JCI). And like some
controversial school ballot initiatives, the Red Plan has,
unfortunately, pitted the public school establishment against
parents and district taxpayers.
But something sets the Red Plan apart from so many ballot
initiatives that preceded it. The Red Plan was never on a
ballot.
That's right, the Duluth school district is planning to spend
$407 million on school facilities that the public never even had
a chance to vote on. Instead, the school board exploited
a legal loophole allowing districts to use alternative
facilities bonding for critical "fire, safety or health
repairs." However, as the price tag suggests, the Red
Plan consists of far more than a few fire and safety repairs;
instead, it is a wholesale
district-wide overhaul that will "divest 13 properties,
it will purchase other properties, it will build three new
schools, and it will remodel 10 schools."
Former state representative Mike Jaros (DFL-Duluth) has accused
the district of misusing the law, which he previously supported:
"Duluth school board had a special law that I passed, the
same as Minneapolis and St. Paul, to help them with
desegregation, health and safety emergency problems, to take
care of, so they wouldn't have to go to the public to ask for a
referendum." Jaros went on to say that the school
board "abused" the law.
The school board adopted the Red Plan in June 2007, and public
resentment toward the district has been growing ever since.
With construction scheduled to begin this Spring, public
opposition has taken on a new sense of urgency. And some
voters in Duluth are not taking this heavy-handed act by school
administrators lightly. In fact, earlier this month, five
taxpayers filed
a lawsuit against the district and JCI alleging that the Red
Plan "violates state laws requiring local units of
government to abide by their competitive bidding policies on
major contracts."
The Red Plan, and its associated tax burden, could not come at a
worse time. Duluth's population is rapidly aging, its
median household income is significantly lower than the rest of
St. Louis County, and families make up just 56.1% of the city's
population. Many taxpayers of modest means and on fixed
incomes are being asked to foot the bill for the Red Plan, and
they were never even allowed to vote on it.
Learn more about the objections to the Duluth school district's
controversial Red Plan at www.letduluthvote.com
Government
watchdog training May 9
The Freedom
Foundation of Minnesota is hosting its first in a series of
government watchdog training sessions on Saturday, May 9 from
8:30am-1:30pm. The half-day training session is open to
any interested citizen that would like to learn how to track
their local government and hold their elected officials
accountable.
The session will feature instruction and panel discussions on
issues including:
. Legal issues involving the Freedom of
Information Act, Minnesota Data Practices Act, and Minnesota
Open Meeting Law
. How to work with traditional and new media
. How to analyze local government documents
and financial data
The training will be held at a convenient Twin Cities location.
Speakers and additional information on topics to be covered will
be featured in upcoming FFM Bulletins.
Please join us for the May 9 session and help bring greater
transparency to all levels of government in Minnesota.
Space is limited, so if you're interested in attending or would
like more information, please contact jonathan.blake@freedomfoundationofminnesota.com
The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota is an independent,
non-profit educational and research organization that actively
advocates the principles of individual freedom, personal
responsibility, economic freedom, and limited government. The
FFM Bulletin is authored by Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Vice President Jonathan Blake.
Copyright ©
2009 - Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
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Special Edition
- Duluth district to spend
$407 million on new schools... without a vote
- Government watchdog training May 9
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Contact Information:
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
800 Nicollet Mall
Suite 2690
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 677-1922
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