(The Sentinel) — Unified School District 469 Lansing last week published on its website an advertisement titled “Revenue Neutral Rate Explained” designed to encourage support for a double-digit property tax increase that made several false and misleading claims. But when asked to substantiate those claims by the Sentinel, Superintendent Dan Wessel and Board President Jeff Bolin would not respond.
One claim in the ad says, “Property values are directly tied to the success and achievements of the school district. Our home values here in Lansing are high due to how amazing Lansing USD469 (sic) for students.”
That simply is not true. Home values for property tax purposes are determined by the county appraiser based on market conditions, not student achievement results. Further, state assessment results for USD 469 are relatively low and declining. A quarter of all students are below grade level in reading and math, only a third are proficient in math, and just 42% are proficient in reading.
Text associated with the ad says the district is “proud” to hold its mill rate flat “for many years,” but that statement obscures large property tax increases imposed by the school board. District budget documents show a 72% local property tax increase over the last 10 years.
The Local Option Budget tax is only 2% higher, but the Capital Outlay tax jumped 203%, and there is a 141% tax increase to make bond and interest payments.
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