Peru: Superintendent protests state financial grade - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
Cross said the district’s cash on hand score has also dropped over the years, as its tax base has shrunk.
“We weren’t hoarding cash,” Cross said. “We were saving for a rainy day, and it’s still raining.”
28 comments:
Maybe the way the sales tax is being collected has impacted the school's financial score. Why is the tax being collected through the city? It should have been the school's taxing district that imposed that tax. I'm not a lawyer, but can't Peru just pass another ordinance taking away that funding and keeping it for themselves?
I don't know anything about the schools financial score but I do recall how this was done. The law does not allow the school distract to collect a sales tax so they did an inter government agreement that can't be broken unless both the school district and the city agree to change it. This was initiated by the superintednent and school board. The voters passed the bond issue for the new school and the city put in the sales tax to pay for the bonds so the school district does not have to collct the property tax. I voted for this and to this day I think it was one of the smartest things and now we have the two wonderful schools.
Sadly, Mark Cross is as much a "politician" as some of Peru's phony elected and appointed officials. The sales tax deal between the city of Peru and the Peru school district was copied off of other similar deals done elsewhere in the state. As a result of sales tax money building a new school and remodeling another Peru's school district is spending its tax revenues just as wrecklessly as the city of Peru and the financial report reflects that fact. When governemnts and school districts have money to spend they find ways to spend it. It will not be long before Cross and the Peru school board which he controls will be short of cash again and in search of more school funding. It is inevitable. Mark Cross used politics to get funding for school construction and improvement. After the bonds are paid off Cross and his board of education should not be allowed to continue to recieve that sales tax revenue for day to day operation of Peru schools. I do not beleive the agreement will allow for that, but I will not be surprised if Mark Cross and other political insiders in Peru wrote in a special clause in that agreement to continue to suck off that sales tax even after the bonds are paid off. Peru's voters, by virtuer of the people they continue to elect are obviousl;y ignorant of what their municipal officials are doing with their tax dollars. But they are totally ignorant and uninterested to what the Peru school board is up to at any given time. Voters and parents see a new school being built and to them that must mean all is just peachy and wonderful in Peru schools. They never take the time or make an effort to look closely. Self-serving political maneuvering in Peru in not reserved for the typical phonies at 4th & Fulton. Peru's school administration and board of education have their own politcal agendas to fulfill. So when I see Peru's municipal insiders and Peru's school insiders patting each other on the back and putting out press releases from Mark Cross touting some great new "collaboration" for whatever, I know there will be more plans to spend, spend, spend.
7:40 You are the reason that this blog has no merit with 98% of the population. Your remarks are idiotic at best. You only believe want you want to believe no matter what the facts are. The collection of taxes was to pay for Parkside construction only. Not the renovation. Get the facts before you spout off! The renovation was needed, or the district would have had to pour millions into upkeep of an old building. Again check the facts before you spout off! All of this was presented to the public by Mr. Cross MANY times. The district received a grant to do the renovation work. All of this was done without raising property taxes. Mr. Cross and the district should be commended not condemmed! Get the facts before you spout off.
7:40
Those good ole boys got a new school without a tax increase. It's good to have those collaborations in our city. Not sure why you have such a poor attitude about everything. Your still mad about not being elected? Its ok and soon you will have a few of those politicians leaving Peru and you might have a chance to get elected. Can't wait for your next slimy campaign.
7:40 AM, Thank you for "spouting off" in regards to the "politicians" that cut these big money deals between Peru government and the Peru school administration. A lot of money is thrown around without any real accountability for the people cutting the deals. Mark Cross and the school board will be asking for more money from the taxpayers before you know it and that is a fact 11:00 AM. People have every right to "spout off" about it. You are the reason people on this blog don't like cheerleaders defending Peru insider deals.
What about the continued decline in enrolment. It won't be long before all we need is one school.
After reading the 7:40 COMMENT and the topic about farmers, I believe it's time to drop this blog from reading. Its has become the views of the alien network. I can't even classify some of the posts as any political, common sense, or even partially insane comments. I now understand why the Peru elected won't be civil towards some of these crazies.
2:35 Feb. 19th
You are entitled to your own opinion but I don't think the people you seem to be referencing conducted a "slimy" campaign. I don't think any candidate did. The only thing I felt (and this is my personal opinion) was wrong was seated officials publicly campaigning for certain individuals. And, how do you know that the post you're referencing was posted by a former candidate?
People should not spout off about something they no NOTHING about. People like You can't stand anything good that happens in this city. Two brand new schools that were greatly needed AND NO property tax increase! I'm a huge cheerleader. If you don't like it, lots of other places for you to hate!
9:11 AM, February 20, 2016. Who says they where "greatly needed". What is "greatly needed" is a merger of Peru, LaSalle and Dimmick School Districts. Maybe even Oglesby.
Less redundancy. Lower overhead. Lower overall taxes.
7:40s comment is the same person saying the same things over and over again. 2:40 what insider deal? Are you people so clueless and intent on seeing everything as something bad? Do you hate our community that much?
not sure about you but like many I knew exactly what the school board (and the city) was doing when they built Parkside and when they rebuilt Northview and when they sold Roosevelt and even when they decided to tear down Washington (I didn't like tearing down Washington even but I agree it was the right decision). Did you try to just ignore them as they went out of their way to communicate everything that was going on? There wasn't anything sneaky or insider about it. Are you just ignoring this or are you just that bitter of a person. Or is 7:40 the same person as 2:40 because I am yet to meet a person who feels as you do. Lived here all my life.
I'm in my 60s, recently retired and I pay my share of taxes and every elected board should do their job as the school district does. Is Mr. Cross a political animal? You bet he is and that is what gets things done. He also has integrity and nothing he does is anything but open and honest. The man will tell you what he thinks if you want to hear it or not. I would just ask where would the community be without this kind of vision and planning. I'll tell you where we would be we would still have three old tired overcrowded schools that needed a hell of a lot of work. Roosevelt had portable classrooms. I went to public meetings on a Sunday afternoon and listened to him speak and answer questions and him and the school board wanted to take care of the building problems that were well known for many years but they wanted to do it without raising our property taxes. That was their agenda. Now we have two new schools that are beautiful mand safe and they didn't raise our taxes. Its not only one of the best "goverment" deals but one of the best business deals I have seen at the local government level.
Everyone who runs for office has an "agenda" 7:40. The agenda of these people is excellent schools while trying to keep property taxes low. Mr. Cross and the Board have done more to move Peru forward and especilly our schools. For the planning of the school back almost ten years ago they had an independent group of 15 or 20 people from the community involved. These people were not involved with the school board or administration. They came up with recommendations. The board and Mr. Cross held meetings and explained everything they were doing perfectly. They answered every question back then but the best part is they have done it all just as they said they would. Elected people keepingg their promises. Imagine that.
As for being a "cheerleader" Mr. Cross and the school district doesn't need one but if they ever do just buy me a skirt. I dont know what more you could ask for. A few people are are going to be miserable no matter what. I looked closely then and I watch closely now. I have talked to Mark Cross several times and he encourages questions and he asks what else he can do. He told me to tell anyone with any questions to contact him and said his goal was to answer every question and find questions they hadnt even thought of yet. He followed up when he said he would. My wife and I were just blown away. We went in planning to vote against the school but just see what was going on and came away to this day knowing why so many voted as we did. I now have grand kids in the district and my kids will never go anywhere else because of our schools in Peru.
Say whatever you want but don't ever call me ignorant again. I would on the other hand suggest you take a close look at your self if you are going to talk about ignorance.
10:13 consolidating schools districts may or may not raise taxes, but the two new schools in Peru certainly did not. Also, you could consolidate all of them and we will still need the two we have in Peru. Where the heck are the kids supposed to go to school? In Dimmick? LaSalle?
Or are you the joker I recall talking about building a tin shed in the country and putting all kids under one roof? I hope so. I need a laugh and want to hear more of that crazy talk and how our Peru taxes would lower as a result.
11:39 AM, February 20, 2016. A School District can have more than one school. There could be schools in every city just like it is now. The difference would be that there would be ONE Superintendent, ONE School Board, ONE Administrative Staff, ONE teachers contract, ONE services contract. That is how consolidation saves money. And YES - I think ONE School Board for the county would be sufficient. This is M&A 101. Merge and cut the fat!
To 11:15 AM, Based on your comment, I think a "skirt" for your wardrode would be most appropriate. If you think public school administrators are NOT political animals you are as innocent and naive in your thinking as a school girl in a "skirt". Mark Cross manipulates and maneuvers in the same fashion as Peru's phony mayor and other Peru elitists. I'm sure they are very gratified they have you and others like you "Buffaloed" to the point of rambling apologies and excuses on their behalf on this blog. Pull up your skirt and open your eyes Mary.
Check out the news from Crystal City Texas. Does it remind you of another town?
Does Crystal City Texas have a stop light in front of their school 24/7 all year long?
If anyone is interested in the 4th of July plans apparently some kind of presentation by the CSO, Peru Parks & Rec Board, and the mall will be made at Monday's council meeting.
It also appears that the city's economic developer has some kind of presentation to make.
Meeting starts at 7:30 for those interested.
9:50, the earlier comment (that you did a very poor job responding to by the way with just more conspiracies and craziness) said the man IS a political animal. I agree with that post. What person in a position of influence who has ever gotten anything done hasn't been a political animal? It's a good thing, and there is nothing phony about him. Once again you answered nothing and just make more crazy accusations. Great post 11:15!
As for your same post at 3:02 (since you repeat yourself quite a lot) I am sure you think large school districts cost less money but you would be wrong. I recently spoke with someone who lives in Oswego. His home is very close to my own in Peru in value and the taxes are almost twice as high. Very common. The school situation could not have turned out any better if they planned it that way. Oh wait. They did.
I will take my local schools that are very well run while you cry in your milk about conspiracies and evil public servants. Run for office 9:50. Run on your big platform of everyone who holds public office is a horrible person. Too bad for you that bitter, angry people who can only criticize will never win a thing.
The CSO should have nothing to do with the fireworks. They should not be allowed to exploit the situation for monetary and political gain. The Wreck Board should have full authority to control all concessions for the purpose of taking in revenue to support "Wreck" activities. A new venue is a great opporunity to take the political wing of the CSO out of the picture and have any proceeds and profits go back to the people instead of going into the political coffers of the CSO. The Wreck Board leadership should take charge instead of bowing down to the CSO. Somebody from Wreck needs to grow a pair because there will be money to be made on this situation and it should not be allowed to be controlled by the meat-heads at the CSO.
12:06 AM, February 22, 2016 - you are wrong. There is so much duplicated school staff around here. The Peru Superintendent and his staff are fully capable of running the LaSalle District, Oglesby District, and Dimmick District.
Consolidate and fire 3/4 of the combined staff - that will save huge amounts of money. You have to have the courage to make the cuts though. My bet is that nobody would have the B@//$ to fire all those people. So the point is mute.
The Rec board can not have a beer tent. So where can they make that money you talk about? And, show a little more respect, if it is possible, for the volunteers working to make the Fourth fun.
8:27 I am assuming you wanted in to the CSO but they wisely kept you out? I hate to tell you, but the last thing that group should be referred to is meat heads. Great group of people who volunteer for the community.
Why so mad bro? Or are you also the same person who hates farmers, who thinks all schools should consolidate, who thinks that even though the superintendent and school board did everything in public that benefited the property tax payers are somehow "secret insiders" and that all public officials are corrupt when most just quietly do their jobs despite lunatics like you?
Did you also remind us of Crystal Lake Texas and how it is like Peru? Everyone going to jail right? Yes. That's right. Put on your tin foil hat and go sit in a corner while we all wait for the indictments. Oh wait. I forgot. It's a conspiracy and you are the only one smart enough to understand.
Yep, its pretty much down to you.
Who says the rec board can't have a beer tent? What I have never understood is why everyone seems to think it's necessary for the CSO to make money on this event which is funded by the rec board, which in turn is funded by the city, which in turn is funded with your tax dollar.
12:23 First of all let me explain that I have nothing against the CSO. However, I would like some clarification with regards to exactly what they volunteer and do for the community.
10:09 you are applying a simple principle to a more complicated question. First of all the local taxpayers get to decide if the school districts consolidate or not but it is more complicated than just cutting the superintendent staff. I agree that the Peru superintendent could run a much larger system without a problem but the cost is not in the administration it is in the hundreds of staff mostly the teachers. The Peru district alone has probaly 100 employees and I don't think you will find too many duplicates. They run a tight ship that I do konw.
If you think cutting staff like that will lower your taxes then you need to ask yourself why larger districts have higher taxes. Ours is ran well and I have no idea why we would want to change that School consolidations do not necessarily save money in the long run. You see that in rural schools all the time. They consolidate and 5 or 10 years later they are needing more money and closing schools.
Good discussion but Peru would be foolish to give up the school district or for that matter the people running it. We are lucky Cross has stayed here as long as he has and in that time we have closed two old schools and now we have two newer ones with no proerpty tax increase. They have kept taxes in check despite the funding mess. On this I will give them and A+ or I can still wear the skirt.
1:33 PM, February 22, 2016 - my argument is not about lowering taxes, never has been. It is about using the existing funds for education instead of redundant administration.
1:33 PM, February 22, 2016 - The reason that larger districts have higher taxes is because education has become a profit making industry in this country. It has absolutely nothing to do with teaching kids to function in society. It has everything to do with enriching each and every individual involved. The really smart ones become administrators because they have learned how to game the system and squeeze as much personal money out of the taxpayer as they can. The incident in Earlville is just one example of a corrupt and allegedly criminal school administrator laughing all the way to the bank. Then look at the Chicago School District. The same thing happens here - just on a smaller scale.
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