The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 3

the Journal Times Boy guilty in murder SATURDAY Sept. 29, 1990 30JyCiily 3A Racine Unified School District expenditures and property tax rates over past 4 years 120 Combined General -g and Debt Service I Fund Expenditures I Js $118lf In millions ol dollar E8 Jf Prelected 110 I 1 1 1 Tj NOTE: tal for 90-9 1 Is 100" comprise i ol $116 llion $92. 5 1 If In genere expendltur ss 95 and $2.8 million ol b( nd debt retlr ment 90 'II 1 1 86-97 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 17t Tax Rates: per fc I $1,000 of equalized properly value 16 mmmwsmmA $14.80 IV. 15' I 1 I 1 Proposed to be $13.34 certified Monday 1 4 Fir night by Racine Unified School Board By Joe Buttweiler Journal Times School taxes for most residents of the Racine Unified School District should go down in 1991, possibly improving the prospects for a $43 million construction proposal. The tentative 1991 tax rate of $15.76 per $1,000 of equalized property value is down 45 cents, or 2.79 percent from this year's tax rate, according to Edwin Benter, Unified's assistant superintendent for business services.

"Depending on what a person's home is valued at, if there was no reassessment this year, they should be paying less in school taxes in 1991 than they did in 1990," Benter said. He attributed the decrease to a 9.5 percent increase in the total value of property in the school district. The 1991 school tax on a house with an equalized property value of $70,000 would be $1,103.20, down $31.50 from this year, under the adjusted tax rate. May not apply to some owners The reductions might not apply to homeowners whose property has been reassessed this year to a higher value, Benter said. Unified's tax levy for the current school year is just under $54 million, an increase of about $3.3 million from last year's.

Benter explained that homeowners' tax bills will go down despite the levy increase because the $54 million is being spread over a larger base, one that is 9.5 percent bigger. The Racine Unified School Board will consider approval of both the levy and the improvement plan at its 7 p.m. meeting Monday at Unified offices, 2220 Northwestern Ave. "As far as the tax rate goes, this is probably an opportune time to look at construction," Benter said. Based on the 1990 property values, the tax increase for the proposed $43 million building proposal would be 96 cents per $1,000 in 1992 taxes, and about 50 cents per $1,000 in each of the next 19 years of debt retirement, Benter said.

The resulting tax on a house valued at $70,000 would be $67.20 in 1992 and $48 in 1993-2011. If total property values increased, the tax rate would decrease, and taxes would increase per house if the total value of property in the district declined. At least one skeptic of the building plan, however, said citizens cannot afford it because of what she called rapid budget increases by Unified over the past several years. "We can't take more," board member Bernice Thomsen said. "The people are so upset." Cites increases as reasonable Benter responded that while no one likes to pay property taxes, the increases in Unified have been reasonable over the past few years.

"The tax levy has gone up 20.6 percent over a five-year period, an average of 4.1 percent a year," he said. In the meantime, inflation has hovered about 4.5 percent a year. Staffing additions and operating and maintenance costs associated with the building proposal would increase Unified's budget by about $1.3 million a year, he said. School board member Dwayne Olsen said Unified's per-pupil spending last year ranked 242nd out of the 371 school districts in the state. School Board President Thomas Friedel has said he thought the public would be supportive of the proposal so long as it did not increase taxes too substantially.

District property values The total value of property in the school district is $3.43 billion. The village of Wind Point experienced the highest jump in values 16.29 percent, to $146.73 million. The total values of property in Elmwood Park and North Bay both increased by more than 15 percent, to $23.28 million and $18.87 million, respectively. In Racine, the total property value of $1.73 billion was up 8.67 from last year. Comparable numbers for Caledonia and Mt.

Pleasant were $643.46 million and $730.66 million, respectively, up 11.41 percent and 9.07 percent, respectively. 86-87 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 Note: Debt retirement amount In 1991-92 would be $5.8 million If proposed Improvement project Is approved. Amount would remain constant over the subsequent 19 years unless Unified borrows more for additional building projects. Theresa SchiflerJournal Times Artist r'l (. iJUUHLUJI JL Lull its I'C' Charles S.

ValloneJournal Times -tt 4 Charles S. ValloneJournal Times State offices moved from Zahn's building By Paul J. Holley Business Editor Developers have moved a proposed one-stop state office center from the Downtown Zahn's building to the Old Stone Building. Roger G. Hill II, president of The Gettys Group said Friday that a lack of adequate parking prompted the developers to try an alternate site.

Now, they have to sell state officials on the idea. The Gettys Group and Wexford Group, both Chicago-based development firms, had an option to buy the Zahn's building at 500 Monument Square. They wanted to renovate the empty four-story department store into space to be leased to seven state government agencies and other offices. Developers dropped option Hill said the developers dropped their option a few weeks ago when they were unable to get at least 100 parking spaces for employees who would work at the office complex. Stipulations in the low-interest financing used to" build the Downtown city parking ramps prevent the city from guaranteeing multiple parking spaces for businesses or organizations.

The developers turned down an offer of parking space in the city-owned lot just north of Inn on the Lake. The developers have now turned their attention a few blocks west to the Old Stone Building at College Avenue and Sixth Street. Hill's mother, Emily of Wind Point, purchased the three-story structure in early 1988 and renovated it for retail and apartment space. Roger Hill said the Old Stone Building's second and third floors have 16,000 to 20,000 square feet available for office space. Parking shouldn't present a problem because he said he purchased the former Ala Rug parking lot at Sixth and College.

A proposal has been made to the state Department of Administration, but the agency's deputy secretary who handles building leases has not yet toured the site. "We hope that they'll be as excited about this site as we are," he said. Hill said that The Gettys Group and Wexford Group would develop the state office center in a joint venture with Emily Hill. The Gettys Group is a real estate developer and consultant. Wexford Group has been involved with building rehabilitation and property de velopment.

A Downtown center, which would house state agencies such as Job Service, the Department of Revenue and the Department of Health and Social Services, was proposed about two years ago by Sen. Joseph Strohl, D-Racine. Strohl still pursuing project Gregg Howard, a Strohl aide, said Friday that the senator's office is still pursuing the project in the new location. Hill said that despite the setback, the Zahn's property still has a lot of redevelopment potential. The property includes a four-story and a two-story building and annex in the 500 block of Monument Square.

The two buildings last housed a department store in 1981. "I think, ultimately, that building will be renovated and perhaps parking won't be as much of a concern In the future," he said. "It's well suited for rehabilitation. However, Hill noted that a developer can't afford to renovate the Zahn's property without anchor tenants. Business group wants different recycling tan By Joseph Hanneman Journal Times The state's largest business group is prepared to fight against a controversial gross-receipts recycling tax and product bans if those proposals are included in a new recycling bill in 1991, the group's president said Friday.

"We support recycling," James Haney, president ol Wisconsin Manufacturers Commerce, said after an appearance in Racine. "But let's do something that ill work." The original version of the bill would have gotten its entire $40 million annual funding from a tax on the gross receipts of 16,000 state businesses. But Gov. Tommy Thompson used his veto to cut the; tax in half and make it expire in two years. That leaves the recycling law, which bans many items from landfills and mandates local recycling pro-gramswithout a permanent funding source.

Haney said when the Legislature takes up a sequel recycling bill, he fully expects some lawmakers to push the business tax again. "The gross receipts tax is so darn regressive." he said. "It's really ridiculous." He said WMC would favor a broader" tax that was based on the amount of waste each business produced. The group is also prepared to oppose any bans on plastic packaging. Those bans were taken out of tht original bill.

"It's just not good public policy, and that's what we'll have to defeat it on," Haney said. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Strohl, chairman of a Legislative Council committee drafting a new recyj cling bill, said he doubted the committee would reconv mend new product bans. Strohl said because Thompson vetoed the Legislature's funding plan for recycling, it's his responsibility to propose a new method. If Thompson does not propose a new plan, the Legislature will extend the current formula that splits the cost between businesses and the state treasury, Strohl said. Corvette key didn't fit for Racine residents Two Racine residents didn't in a new Corvette in a brewery's promotion on Friday, but they did garner some extra cash.

Richard Clark, a Racine carpenter, won $2,000 in cash, while Janice Martin, a Burlington coach, won $750. The cash awards were drawn after the two were unable to start a 1991 Corvette sports car with keys they selected. Clark and Martin were among six finalists in the Old Style Beer "Insta Win 90" game. They qualified for the contest, held in La Crosse, by turning in Old Style cans containing instant winner symbols. The car went to Donna Conklin of BeloiL Residents of the Ridgewood Care Center were treated to a Hawaiian-style luau this week.

The Hawaiian party was sponsored by the Junior Women's Club of Racine. The party Included a pig roast, and the Burlington Ukelele Club strummed Hawaiian songs. About 100 residents attended the festivities. 1 -MinirKr---- 11 Mary Ricchio was thrilled with the lei she got from staffer Ric Horvath. Congest may IheSp track image Associated Press jumps out at you name," Sultemeier "I just like the 6 really for a said, idea." Officials at Dairyland Greyhound Park, billed as the largest in the nation.

We had the contest because nothing really jumps out at you for a name. I just like the idea. -Ron Sultemeier Dairyland general manager The person who submits the winning name is to receive a free day at the park for 12 people, complete with food, parking, No violation of meetings law found A Burlington alderman and school officials who met to discuss a proposed truancy ordinance did not violate the state open meetings law, Racine County Assistant District Attorney Michael Nieskes said Friday. Burlington Mayor Steven David asked for an open meetings probe after Alderman Alvin Greason met with school and law enforcement officials about a new rule to deal with truants in the school district. David comDlained that there say they hope a children's contest to name the lure dogs chase in races will help improve the park's i image.

When the park first opened in June, publicity director Bill Stefl said the lure wouldn't be named. "That was the philosophy of (former General Manger) Don Hess. That philosophy has changed," Stefl said. Hess, who had been hired by four Alabama men who had a controlling stake in the track, resigned after the state Racing Board ordered the four men to divest their holdings. Ron Sultemeier, former general man- admission and VIP reserved seating.

The deadline for entries is Oct. 1, and the winner will be announced Oct. 13 at the park's $100,000 Dairyland Stakes Race. Dairyland recently opened its evening performances to children under 12, who had been excluded. Since that move, Sultemeier said the track has "put on a happier face." Sultemeier said he hopes to move his family to Wisconsin from Kansas in ager at the Fox Valley Greyhound Park, in Kaukauna, was hired at Dairyland in August.

The lure at Fox Valley is named "Foxy." At the Geneva Lakes Greyhound Park in Lake Geneva, the lure is named "Bucky" and the lure at the Wisconsin Dells Track is named "Harrington." The track's "Name the Lure Contest" began two weeks ago and already has received hundreds of entries, officials said. "We had the contest because nothing was no meeting notice posted for Woman killed in 4-vehicle crash the discussions unaer me open meetings law. "There was no government body that was meeting," Nieskes said. There was no formal or informal government committee meeting, and there was not a quorum of the city council present, he said. The group met on three occasions last spring and this summer to discuss a truancy rule that could have fined parents $500 if their children became habitual truants.

The council approved the idea Sept. 4, but David vetoed it. turned his van left in her path. Tridle's vehicle struck the van and then slid into the auto driven by James S. Armstrong, 28.

of Green Bay. who was stopped at the stop sign on Highway H. After striking Armstrong's car, Tridle's pickup truck slid sideways into the path of an eastbound semitrailer truck driven by Robert W. Mvszwski, 25, of West Bend, then struck a traffic signal post and came to rest in a ditch, the spokesman said. Tridle, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead with massive internal injuries at Kenosha Memorial Hospital.

Thomsen, who was cited for failing to yield the right-of-way, was treated for a cut arm and released, the State Patrol spokesman said. PLEASANT PRAIRIE A Kenosha woman died Friday afternoon in a Kenosha County accident involving four vehicles. According to a State Patrol spokesman, at 1:01 p.m.. Glenda C. Tridle, 40, was driving east on Highway 50 at the junction with Highway 192 and County Highway when Harold C.

Thomsen, 79, Kenosha,.