The Tax Levy To Save Kanabec History Center
|
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 thank everyone for their help and contributions, and have tried our best to gain enough funds, appropriations, and support in order to continue to operate our History Center. The good news? We are excited and hopeful, as we have another chance to gain the much needed consistent income via a Tax Levy in November of 2022. This would cost approximately $5-$10 for most Kanabec County residents annually, and would be collected through property taxes. This amount is just enough in funding for KCHS/KHC to cover their annual operating expenses of $53k. (We will still need to apply for grants, we still need memberships, we still will need volunteers, we still need your attendance at events, etc.) We are asking for your support by Voting YES on November 8th, 2022. We can't do this without you, and it is your voices that will be heard to make the ultimate decision whether we need to close the Kanabec County History Center. |
*this is the exact question that will appear on the ballot
|
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 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.
For example, a residential homestead property worth $98,000 in Mora would pay about $1.46 to KHC per year. A residential homestead property worth $300,000 would pay around $4.00 to KHC per year. (Meaning a $1.46 or $4.00 increase to property taxes.)
If you're more familiar with finances, these details might help you estimate how much you'd pay:
(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. In other words, this tax will not automatically increase annually.)
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.
For example, a residential homestead property worth $98,000 in Mora would pay about $1.46 to KHC per year. A residential homestead property worth $300,000 would pay around $4.00 to KHC per year. (Meaning a $1.46 or $4.00 increase to property taxes.)
If you're more familiar with finances, these details might help you estimate how much you'd pay:
- For our levy, the rate applied to the tax capacity of each parcel of property in Kanabec County would be .2010.
- Another 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. In other words, this tax will not automatically increase annually.)
How do I help Kanabec History Center?
Vote! Donate! Volunteer!
We love to have volunteers helping at KHC, and we're very grateful for individuals and businesses who have become involved with the History Center. We are currently looking for more Board Members who have fresh views, and the time to make the History Center great again! We appreciate everyone's assistance in boosting KHC visibility, and your support by advertising through your friends and family. Of course...we will always accept monetary and material donations of any amount.
What do we need the most? Your assistance and commitment to KHC to vote YES on the November 2022 ballot, and to help us spread the word to our Kanabec County residents to ensure they too will be voting YES.
We love to have volunteers helping at KHC, and we're very grateful for individuals and businesses who have become involved with the History Center. We are currently looking for more Board Members who have fresh views, and the time to make the History Center great again! We appreciate everyone's assistance in boosting KHC visibility, and your support by advertising through your friends and family. Of course...we will always accept monetary and material donations of any amount.
What do we need the most? Your assistance and commitment to KHC to vote YES on the November 2022 ballot, and to help us spread the word to our Kanabec County residents to ensure they too will be voting YES.
If KHC is so low on money, why didn't the organization act sooner?
We have been actively trying to get the word out for the past several years, but our attempts at finding additional sources of income through community funds or County/City entities has failed.
For most of the Kanabec History Center's existence, KCHS/KHC relied on funds donated to our organization by Kanabec County residents, and also from local organizations such as County/City funding. Over the years, the economy and inflation have proposed numerous cuts in the amount of funding we have received. Because of our non-profit status (meaning we don't receive any state or federal funding, and since the County nor Cities are required to give us funding), we lost some of our largest - and occasionally only sources of income. We experienced a severe cut in County funding in the early 1990's, which has never been restored to it's original amount.
When it became apparent that the History Center was quickly losing money and coming very close to closing, a new Director was hired in 2014. Although we were able to greatly cut expenses and keep the doors open, but over the last eight years, we have continued to struggle with decreasing amount funds. We have not been able to hire sufficient office staff. We struggle with the decreasing number of volunteers. Our Board has made regular, and valiant attempts to secure funding from the residents, members, and community to try to gain increases in our operating funds.
Although our support from the County and City have steadily grown smaller and smaller, our Townships' monetary support has remained. We have received some very generous private donations also. This funding is extremely appreciated, and we are incredibly grateful for the communities and those persons who do continue to support KCHS/KHC! Unfortunately, it's still not enough on a regular basis to cover the overhead and expenses of the History Center.
Our dedicated staff and Board has been working hard to get another tax levy on the ballot to obtain community funding. (Unfortunately, due to what we have seen and heard, there was a lack of awareness about our 2020 tax levy, and we were up against a multi million dollar School Bond also on the ballot.) We have now succeeded in getting the levy back on the ballot for the November 2022 Elections and the voters voices. We sincerely hope in November 2022, you'll be showing your support by 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 funds donated to our organization by Kanabec County residents, and also from local organizations such as County/City funding. Over the years, the economy and inflation have proposed numerous cuts in the amount of funding we have received. Because of our non-profit status (meaning we don't receive any state or federal funding, and since the County nor Cities are required to give us funding), we lost some of our largest - and occasionally only sources of income. We experienced a severe cut in County funding in the early 1990's, which has never been restored to it's original amount.
When it became apparent that the History Center was quickly losing money and coming very close to closing, a new Director was hired in 2014. Although we were able to greatly cut expenses and keep the doors open, but over the last eight years, we have continued to struggle with decreasing amount funds. We have not been able to hire sufficient office staff. We struggle with the decreasing number of volunteers. Our Board has made regular, and valiant attempts to secure funding from the residents, members, and community to try to gain increases in our operating funds.
Although our support from the County and City have steadily grown smaller and smaller, our Townships' monetary support has remained. We have received some very generous private donations also. This funding is extremely appreciated, and we are incredibly grateful for the communities and those persons who do continue to support KCHS/KHC! Unfortunately, it's still not enough on a regular basis to cover the overhead and expenses of the History Center.
Our dedicated staff and Board has been working hard to get another tax levy on the ballot to obtain community funding. (Unfortunately, due to what we have seen and heard, there was a lack of awareness about our 2020 tax levy, and we were up against a multi million dollar School Bond also on the ballot.) We have now succeeded in getting the levy back on the ballot for the November 2022 Elections and the voters voices. We sincerely hope in November 2022, you'll be showing your support by 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 $45,000?
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 $45,000 per year.
This is more than we expected, however, it is not more than we need. $45,000 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. $45,000 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!
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! In this day and age, it is hard for a two parent working family to find the time to volunteer. Many of our volunteers cannot commit to a regular schedule. It is our dream to one day run on a volunteer staff made up from community members who care passionately for KHC. If you or anyone you know is interested in working at KHC as part of our part-time staff team, we need any and all the help we can get! You can find more information about volunteering, on our Join Our Staff page, or call us at 320-679-1665 Wed - Saturday!
Unfortunately, the tax levy did not pass in 2020. But we didn't give up, and are our levy will be back on the ballot in November of 2022! Please help us by voting YES!
At the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center (KCHS/KHC), we believe in history. We value the past, and 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, and motivation for forty-four 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:
"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 is the single-minded goal we operate under: to safeguard and care for the past; and to ensure that the local history of Kanabec County's people is never lost or forgotten. It is more than anyone could have hoped/dreamed for Kanabec History Center - to be operating in the year 2022, 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.
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 memorial funds from dedicated and gracious Kanabec County residents, and minimal and funding from the City and County which has further experienced major cuts since the early 1990's. As times changed, KCHS/KHC is no longer receiving those same funds, or larger donations...and with high inflation, our funding from the City and County covers less and less of our expenses.
Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center is in dire need of operating funds. Every year, we lose approximately $20,000+ more than we make - despite our best efforts. The available funds are just not there any more.
- For the past five years we have only been able to employ one or two people. For the last five months of 2021 and during 2022, we are now down to one part-time paid employee. We need more man power.
- That's why we are always looking for volunteers! For casual volunteering you can give us a call at 320-679-1665, or email us at [email protected]. We also will work with the SCSEP program for seniors ages 55+.
- We need more Business members, more Board members, and additional Staff to revive the History Center.
- Thanks to our patrons, we have some of the best membership counts of Historical Society's in Minnesota!
- We advocate for and endorse the Historical Society/History Center as much as possible for the entire Kanabec County.
- We are inviting and attracting foot traffic with our walking and bike trails, with events, and with museum displays.
- We hold various programs for our younger generations, host some of our local School classes, and help those organizations who support of the Society/Center.
- We house and promote our local artists, writers, and misc. organizations in our rental space, and offer a vast area of research resources that date back to the early 1900's.
- We hold numerous annual fundraisers, such as Rock-A-Thon, Old Tyme Country School, Christmas Lighting Contest, and Sweet Saturday Free Admissions from June to August on Saturdays.
- We apply numerous times throughout the year for grants and donations, though our need is mostly for operating funds and maintenance projects.
- We strive to keep improving and professionalizing our Board, management, and method of operations at KHC.
- We try to participate with various other exchanges in services, projects, programs, and partnerships with individuals and businesses within Kanabec County.
- Our committed, driven staff, our devoted volunteers, and our passionate Board Members all dedicate mass amounts of hard work, time, and energy to accomplish these things on a very limited budget. Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center is pledged to protecting and preserving the history of Kanabec County, including its residents! The most precious artifacts that we provide a home for, are the photographs and stories of the people of Kanabec County, their history, their families, their journeys, and their accomplishments.
Unfortunately, if we don't secure significant, and consistent income, with adequate staff, we may be forced to close the Center's doors. If we are forced to close, we will be faced with the heartbreaking task of deaccessioning our museum. As many of our items and records will be offered back to any remaining family we can find of their original donors, or offered to various other historical organizations (including the Minnesota Historical Society, and other community organizations who might take an interest. The rest of our items may have to be sold, disposed of, or left to collect dust elsewhere. Additionally, all other events and services by the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center, (including community events; access to our historic buildings such as Coin, Whittier, and Webster schools; access to our museum; research records; rental space; the "News From Yesteryear" column in the Kanabec County Times; internship and volunteer opportunities for students, etc. will be shut down and unavailable to everyone.
If we do not want to see this happen, we must vote YES on the November Ballot for the History Center!
KHC will be putting a question on the November, 2022 ballot in Kanabec County, asking voters if they are willing to increase their property taxes by a mere $5-10 annually in order to support the Kanabec County Historical Society/Kanabec History Center. The levy amount is calculated individually, based on their property values. This tax levy could provide KCHS/KHC with $45,000 annually, but it is enough to keep our doors open! We will continue to apply for grants, ask for donations, etc., as our Budget is $53k without employee wages and the much needed repairs. For the price of morning coffee, or a snack from a vending machine, you could help save KHC! We know that every person in Kanabec County has a different financial situation...but without using this last but CRUCIAL tool available to us, we may have no choice but to close our doors. The choice is up to you, the voters.
We are relying on the community of Kanabec County - our friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and visitors from out of our area. Come see us, write to the Editor, visit the Museum, talk to your neighbors, attend our events, purchase a membership, rent our Hall, etc.
We sincerely appreciate any and all support that can be given, and we THANK YOU for it. Help us get the word out there! VOTE YES!
We leave you with words from Pete McVay's groundbreaking speech given on behalf of the Kanabec History Center:
“We have an interest in history because we know that we are whatever we are, is 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, and a culture. We have received some appreciation of beauty, 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 with more consideration of our neighbors and of all men. We are indeed a fortunate people. So as our forefathers’ courage, determination, sacrifices, visions, and love were great – so is our heritage and our benefits great.”
|
|
|
