Stevenson manages money well

There has been controversy about the tax levy and fund balances at Stevenson High School during the school board election campaign. As someone who is involved in finances on a daily basis, I keep a close watch on how my tax dollars are managed. Stevenson gets approximately 90 percent of its revenue from property taxes.

The primary purpose of the levy is to fund the education program. The school board has been cutting costs continuously, and their cost per pupil is the lowest of any high-performing high school. These cost reductions have enabled the school board to abate — return to tax payers- a portion of the tax levy for four of the last five years and in 2011 abate 100 percent of the tax levy increase.

The levy also supports an adequate fund balance that can be used when necessary. For example, when Illinois or the federal government cannot meet their financial commitments to the school, the school can use these reserve funds to support important programs.

That was the case in 2010 and again in 2011. Using fund balances, the school has been able to avoid emergency budget cuts that would have impacted the quality of education for our students. Finally, by not cutting the levy, the school board can keep its options open for future funding in uncertain times, and defer the next tax referendum.

Please support Terry Moons, Bruce Lubin, Merv Roberts and David Weisberg to ensure that Stevenson’s finances continue to be responsibly managed.

Michael D. Lyman

Long Grove