The Tax Levy To Save Kanabec History Center
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TL;DR - The Short Version
Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center is committed to preserving the history of Kanabec County, including the memories and stories of the people of Kanabec County. We've tried our best to gain funds and support, but are now facing closure. Our last shot at significant, consistent income is a Tax Levy which will appear on the November 2020 Presidential Ballot. This would cost about $5 (under $3.50 for most Kanabec County residents) per year per property in property taxes. However, it would amount to just enough in funding for KCHS/KHC to stay open! |
*this is the exact question that will appear on the ballot
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See "Elaboration" below our "FAQs" for a full-length detail
of what the Tax Levy is and why we need it!
of what the Tax Levy is and why we need it!
Frequently Asked Questions about the KCHS/KHC Tax Levy
Click the + symbol to the right of whichever question you'd like to see the answer to, and the answer will drop down below!
If this tax levy passes, how much money will it cost me?
The funding for KHC will be made through property taxes and charged only in Kanabec County. (The levy would make KHC and ECRDC are the only organizations to collect county-wide property tax.) This means the tax is calculated per individual, depending on the size and value of the property you own.
It will cost residents of Kanabec County approximately under $5 per year, with $5 (potentially a bit more for more expensive properties) being the higher end and $1 being the lower end. Most people in Kanabec County will only be paying $2-$4 per year.
A helpful way to estimate how much money you'd be giving to KHC is by looking at the item for East Central Regional Development Commission (ECRDC) on your tax form. KHC's levy will be about 15% more than ECRDC's. This means if our ECRDC payment was $3.00 last year, KHC would only be $3.45 on your taxes. For the price of a latte from the Holiday Gas Station, or a candy bar from the check-out isle of Coborns or Dollar General, you could save the Kanabec History Center!
(There would not be an increase in this tax unless KHC asked to have an increase to the levy put on another ballot and voted on by the people.)
It will cost residents of Kanabec County approximately under $5 per year, with $5 (potentially a bit more for more expensive properties) being the higher end and $1 being the lower end. Most people in Kanabec County will only be paying $2-$4 per year.
A helpful way to estimate how much money you'd be giving to KHC is by looking at the item for East Central Regional Development Commission (ECRDC) on your tax form. KHC's levy will be about 15% more than ECRDC's. This means if our ECRDC payment was $3.00 last year, KHC would only be $3.45 on your taxes. For the price of a latte from the Holiday Gas Station, or a candy bar from the check-out isle of Coborns or Dollar General, you could save the Kanabec History Center!
(There would not be an increase in this tax unless KHC asked to have an increase to the levy put on another ballot and voted on by the people.)
How do I help Kanabec History Center?
Vote!
We love to see volunteers helping out at KHC and we're eternally grateful for individuals and businesses who become involved with the center and this community's history. We always accept donations of any amount, assistance in boosting KHC visibility, and free advertising.
However, right now, the biggest action of assistance and commitment to KHC that any of us can make is to vote YES on the November ballot and to ensure that your friends, family, and coworkers will also be voting YES.
We love to see volunteers helping out at KHC and we're eternally grateful for individuals and businesses who become involved with the center and this community's history. We always accept donations of any amount, assistance in boosting KHC visibility, and free advertising.
However, right now, the biggest action of assistance and commitment to KHC that any of us can make is to vote YES on the November ballot and to ensure that your friends, family, and coworkers will also be voting YES.
If KHC is so low on money, why didn't the organization act sooner?
We have been acting, but our attempts at finding other sources of income and gaining community funds and county/city support were, by majority, fruitless.
For most of the Kanabec History Center's existence, KCHS/KHC relied on money donated to our organization through the Wills of Kanabec County residents. Because of our non-profit local historical society status (meaning we don't receive any state or federal funding and neither the county nor city is required to give us any funding), this was our greatest and occasionally only source of income. Up until the early 2010's, the organization was still running on leftover Will money.
When it became apparent that the Center was quickly losing money and going to close, a new director was hired (Wendy Quinn, in 2014) who was able to greatly cut expenses and keep the doors open. For the next six years, Wendy, her decreasing amount of office staff, volunteers, and the Board, made regular, valiant attempts to secure funding from the community and gain increases in pre-existing funding.
Despite our best efforts, support from the county and city have dwindled and steadily grown smaller and smaller. We now receive no funding from the city, a small check from the county, and small contributions from the Townships of Kanabec County. All of this funding is extremely appreciated and we are incredibly grateful for the commissioners and communities who continue to support KCHS/KHC as much as they can! Unfortunately, though we are thankful for this financial support, it's not enough.
For the last five years, our dedicated staff have been trying to get a tax levy on the ballot for community funding. That work has finally paid off! We are on the November 3rd, 2020 presidential ballot! Through years of labor and commitment, we have achieved this last opportunity to keep our doors open. If the tax levy does not pass, KHC will be forced to close in the early months of 2021. We sincerely hope you'll be voting YES!
*For more and more detailed information, see our "Elaboration" below the FAQs.
For most of the Kanabec History Center's existence, KCHS/KHC relied on money donated to our organization through the Wills of Kanabec County residents. Because of our non-profit local historical society status (meaning we don't receive any state or federal funding and neither the county nor city is required to give us any funding), this was our greatest and occasionally only source of income. Up until the early 2010's, the organization was still running on leftover Will money.
When it became apparent that the Center was quickly losing money and going to close, a new director was hired (Wendy Quinn, in 2014) who was able to greatly cut expenses and keep the doors open. For the next six years, Wendy, her decreasing amount of office staff, volunteers, and the Board, made regular, valiant attempts to secure funding from the community and gain increases in pre-existing funding.
Despite our best efforts, support from the county and city have dwindled and steadily grown smaller and smaller. We now receive no funding from the city, a small check from the county, and small contributions from the Townships of Kanabec County. All of this funding is extremely appreciated and we are incredibly grateful for the commissioners and communities who continue to support KCHS/KHC as much as they can! Unfortunately, though we are thankful for this financial support, it's not enough.
For the last five years, our dedicated staff have been trying to get a tax levy on the ballot for community funding. That work has finally paid off! We are on the November 3rd, 2020 presidential ballot! Through years of labor and commitment, we have achieved this last opportunity to keep our doors open. If the tax levy does not pass, KHC will be forced to close in the early months of 2021. We sincerely hope you'll be voting YES!
*For more and more detailed information, see our "Elaboration" below the FAQs.
If KHC is only going down $20,000+ per year, why is the tax levy for $30,000?
Initial calculations, which we used to determine how much money we would need from the residents of Kanabec County, lead us to a taxable percentage which we estimated would provide us with $20,000 per year. It was only after the tax levy was approved to be on the ballot and professional numbers were crunched that we learned our estimated percentage of property tax increase would equate to $30,000 per year, as opposed to 20k.
This is more than we expected, however, it is not more than we need. $30,000 is not enough to hire new employees, make repairs to our historic buildings and artifacts, or make improvements to our building or resources. It is just enough to keep our doors open and ensure that the lights stay on and our staff are paid!
This is more than we expected, however, it is not more than we need. $30,000 is not enough to hire new employees, make repairs to our historic buildings and artifacts, or make improvements to our building or resources. It is just enough to keep our doors open and ensure that the lights stay on and our staff are paid!
Why should I care if Kanabec History Center closes? /
Would the closure of Kanabec History Center be a loss to my community?
Would the closure of Kanabec History Center be a loss to my community?
Kanabec History Center is home to the stories and memories of families, businesses, and community history. We preserve the past of Kanabec County and all of its inhabitants and most key moments and events, as well as various history for similar cultures and other places that families traveled to or came from. Additionally, we are very involved in our community and always welcome to more community involvement. We love working with the schools, local families, and other businesses to provide learning experiences, a place to store and keep treasured memories and records, and places to share and connect.
If we were to close, all of the knowledge, heritage, and community growth would be lost. The closure of Kanabec History Center would absolutely be a terrible loss to this community.
For more and more detailed information, see our Elaboration below the FAQs.
If we were to close, all of the knowledge, heritage, and community growth would be lost. The closure of Kanabec History Center would absolutely be a terrible loss to this community.
For more and more detailed information, see our Elaboration below the FAQs.
Why doesn't the kanabec history center use volunteer staff / more volunteer workers to cut charges?
We are always looking for volunteers to help out! It is our dream to one day run on a volunteer staff made up from community members who care so passionately for KHC. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find individuals or any teams willing to be full time volunteer staff, but if you or anyone you know is interested in working at KHC, we would love for any help we can get!
For an Elaboration;
At the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center (KCHS/KHC), we believe in history. We value the past, but believe that history is also being made every day, by everyday people. We believe in memories and in the stories of the people of Kanabec County.
This has been our passion, our reason for being, and our motivation for forty-two years since the Kanabec History Center opened on June 24, 1978. The property KHC sits on and the building itself were dedicated to the Kanabec County Historical Society by Pete McVay, in loving memory of his wife, Mary. The powerful words of Pete McVay gave us our statement of purpose and planted a core value within the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center, which has ignited a penchant for serving the Society/Center and its county in everyone who passes through.
"We are a bridge between those who preceded us and those will follow us. Let us preserve and honor the best of yesterday, that it may guide us to a better tomorrow."
KCHS/KHC's purpose is to collect and preserve the history of Kanabec County specifically. Our focus and dedication are here, with these people, with you! It is the single-minded goal we operate under: to safeguard and care for the past; to ensure that the local history of Kanabec County's people and places is never lost or forgotten.
We are proud and overjoyed to have made it this far. It is more than anyone could have hoped or dreamed for Kanabec History Center to be operating in the year 2020, almost ninety years after the Kanabec County Historical Society was first formed. We could not be more grateful to the community that has supported us and shared our love for and loyalty to history.
But, sadly, we are now facing closure. Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center is a non-profit and, as a local history center, we do not receive any state or federal funding, and there is no mandatory financial support from the county or city--which is why we rely heavily on memberships, donations, and non-required contracted funds from the county and townships. Our main source of income for the last forty years was money left to us in the Wills of dedicated and gracious Kanabec County residents. As times change, KCHS/KHC is no longer receiving those large donations through Wills.
Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center is in dire need of funds. Every year, we lose $20,000+ more than we make, despite our best efforts, which include (but are not limited to):
Unfortunately, if we don't secure significant, consistent income, we will be forced to close in the early months of 2021. Thanks to our partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS), in the event that KCHS/KHC closes, the history of Kanabec County will not be left to rot; but it will be locked away in the basement of the MNHS and will not be available to the public. Additionally, all other events and services by the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center, including yearly community events such as Rock-A-Thon, Old Tyme Country School, and the Christmas Tour of Homes; access to our historic buildings such as Coin, Whittier, and Webster schools; research; and rental space; and the "News From Yesteryear" column in the Kanabec County Times; will be shut down and unavailable.
Things are not all grey clouds and gloomy days, though! There is hope!
On November 3, 2020, there will be a question included on the Presidential Election Ballot asking voters if they are willing to increase their property taxes in order to support the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center. This would be an amount approximately under $5 a year for taxpayers in Kanabec County. This property tax is calculated for individuals based on their property value, and will be about $5, possibly slightly more, at the highest end, and about $1, maybe even less, on the lowest end. For the price of a cup of coffee or candy from a vending machine, you could help seve KHC! We sympathize and know that every person in Kanabec County has a different story and is in a different financial situation. However, without this CRUCIAL support from the county, we will have no choice but to close our doors.
This tax levy would provide KCHS/KHC with $30,000 annually! This is not enough for any repair or upgrade projects for the Center or our historic buildings (but that's what grants are for!) or increase in number of employees. It is enough to keep our doors open, though! And that is our number one priority now: keeping our doors open, so that we can continue to collect and preserve Kanabec County's history--and continue to provide access to these precious memories and stories.
The Society/Center needs your support now more than ever before. The choice is up to you, the voters. We are relying on the community of Kanabec County; our friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and strangers (i.e. friends we have yet to meet) with whom we share our home, to save the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center. We sincerely appreciate any and all support, past, present, and future, and THANK YOU.
We leave you with words from Pete McVay's groundbreaking speech given on behalf of the Kanabec History Center, and hope that when the time comes, you'll be voting YES!
“We have an interest in history because we know that we are whatever we are largely because of those who preceded us. We know that we have what we have, we live as we live in no small measure because of their work and sacrifices.
From our fathers and our fathers’ fathers we have received a faith, a set of moral standards, a code of ethics, a culture. We have received some appreciation of beauty and kindness and love. We have been taught to seek knowledge. We have been inspired to search for a better life – a life better not only in a material way but a life that reflects a better understanding and more consideration of our neighbors and all men.
We are indeed a fortunate people. For as our forefathers’ courage, and determination, and sacrifices and vision, and love were great – so great is our heritage, so great are our benefits.”
At the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center (KCHS/KHC), we believe in history. We value the past, but believe that history is also being made every day, by everyday people. We believe in memories and in the stories of the people of Kanabec County.
This has been our passion, our reason for being, and our motivation for forty-two years since the Kanabec History Center opened on June 24, 1978. The property KHC sits on and the building itself were dedicated to the Kanabec County Historical Society by Pete McVay, in loving memory of his wife, Mary. The powerful words of Pete McVay gave us our statement of purpose and planted a core value within the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center, which has ignited a penchant for serving the Society/Center and its county in everyone who passes through.
"We are a bridge between those who preceded us and those will follow us. Let us preserve and honor the best of yesterday, that it may guide us to a better tomorrow."
KCHS/KHC's purpose is to collect and preserve the history of Kanabec County specifically. Our focus and dedication are here, with these people, with you! It is the single-minded goal we operate under: to safeguard and care for the past; to ensure that the local history of Kanabec County's people and places is never lost or forgotten.
We are proud and overjoyed to have made it this far. It is more than anyone could have hoped or dreamed for Kanabec History Center to be operating in the year 2020, almost ninety years after the Kanabec County Historical Society was first formed. We could not be more grateful to the community that has supported us and shared our love for and loyalty to history.
But, sadly, we are now facing closure. Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center is a non-profit and, as a local history center, we do not receive any state or federal funding, and there is no mandatory financial support from the county or city--which is why we rely heavily on memberships, donations, and non-required contracted funds from the county and townships. Our main source of income for the last forty years was money left to us in the Wills of dedicated and gracious Kanabec County residents. As times change, KCHS/KHC is no longer receiving those large donations through Wills.
Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center is in dire need of funds. Every year, we lose $20,000+ more than we make, despite our best efforts, which include (but are not limited to):
- running on a skeleton crew (minimum possible employees at all times). For the past five years this has been either one or two people. For four months of 2020 we were down to one paid employee once again.
- having one of the highest membership rates of any history center in Minnesota
- advocating for and endorsing the Society/Center as much as possible around Kanabec County
- avid social media involvement and publicity
- advertising for business members
- attracting foot traffic and attention with events and new museum displays
- adding younger generations to our target audience for events, services, and displays in an effort to increase interest in and support of the Society/Center
- promoting our increasingly popular other services, such as rental space and research
- numerous annual fundraisers, such as Rock-A-Thon, Old Tyme Country School, and the Christmas Tour of Homes
- numerous grant applications, though our need is for operating funds and grants are offered for special projects
- enthusiastic marketing
- improving and professionalizing our Board, management, and method of operations at KHC with research, no-cost training, connection building, and learning and formalizing on the parts of all of our staff and Board Members
- various other exchanges in services, projects, programs, and partnerships with individuals and businesses around Kanabec County intended to bring in revenue
Unfortunately, if we don't secure significant, consistent income, we will be forced to close in the early months of 2021. Thanks to our partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS), in the event that KCHS/KHC closes, the history of Kanabec County will not be left to rot; but it will be locked away in the basement of the MNHS and will not be available to the public. Additionally, all other events and services by the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center, including yearly community events such as Rock-A-Thon, Old Tyme Country School, and the Christmas Tour of Homes; access to our historic buildings such as Coin, Whittier, and Webster schools; research; and rental space; and the "News From Yesteryear" column in the Kanabec County Times; will be shut down and unavailable.
Things are not all grey clouds and gloomy days, though! There is hope!
On November 3, 2020, there will be a question included on the Presidential Election Ballot asking voters if they are willing to increase their property taxes in order to support the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center. This would be an amount approximately under $5 a year for taxpayers in Kanabec County. This property tax is calculated for individuals based on their property value, and will be about $5, possibly slightly more, at the highest end, and about $1, maybe even less, on the lowest end. For the price of a cup of coffee or candy from a vending machine, you could help seve KHC! We sympathize and know that every person in Kanabec County has a different story and is in a different financial situation. However, without this CRUCIAL support from the county, we will have no choice but to close our doors.
This tax levy would provide KCHS/KHC with $30,000 annually! This is not enough for any repair or upgrade projects for the Center or our historic buildings (but that's what grants are for!) or increase in number of employees. It is enough to keep our doors open, though! And that is our number one priority now: keeping our doors open, so that we can continue to collect and preserve Kanabec County's history--and continue to provide access to these precious memories and stories.
The Society/Center needs your support now more than ever before. The choice is up to you, the voters. We are relying on the community of Kanabec County; our friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and strangers (i.e. friends we have yet to meet) with whom we share our home, to save the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center. We sincerely appreciate any and all support, past, present, and future, and THANK YOU.
We leave you with words from Pete McVay's groundbreaking speech given on behalf of the Kanabec History Center, and hope that when the time comes, you'll be voting YES!
“We have an interest in history because we know that we are whatever we are largely because of those who preceded us. We know that we have what we have, we live as we live in no small measure because of their work and sacrifices.
From our fathers and our fathers’ fathers we have received a faith, a set of moral standards, a code of ethics, a culture. We have received some appreciation of beauty and kindness and love. We have been taught to seek knowledge. We have been inspired to search for a better life – a life better not only in a material way but a life that reflects a better understanding and more consideration of our neighbors and all men.
We are indeed a fortunate people. For as our forefathers’ courage, and determination, and sacrifices and vision, and love were great – so great is our heritage, so great are our benefits.”
Why doesn't the Kanabec History Center use volunteer staff/more volunteer workers to cut charges?
We are always looking for volunteers to help out! Unfortunately we haven't been able to find individuals or any teams willing to be full time volunteer staff, but if you or anyone you know is interested in working at KHC, we would love for any help we can get!
We are always looking for volunteers to help out! Unfortunately we haven't been able to find individuals or any teams willing to be full time volunteer staff, but if you or anyone you know is interested in working at KHC, we would love for any help we can get!
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