A group that supports the Duluth school district's long-range facilities plan believes the opposition group Let Duluth Vote has broken laws relating to the reporting of fundraising and lobbying activities.
Move Forward Duluth delivered a letter to St. Louis County Attorney Melanie Ford today alleging that Let Duluth Vote has spent funds for ads, lawsuits, a Web site and mailings for the purpose of encouraging public support for a referendum. But it alleges the group hasn't followed the law that requires them to tell the public how that money was raised and spent.
"Minnesota law is clear: Groups that spend money to encourage local governments to approve ballot questions must publicly disclose their sources of funds and their expenses,'' said Robin Downs, a leader of Move Forward Duluth, in a prepared statement.
Downs cites Minnesota law that "requires any committee that receives contributions or makes disbursements of more than $750 in a calendar year to file regular reports of contributions and disbursements.'' An affidavit from the school district states that the required reports have not been filed.
Ford confirmed that her office received the Move Forward Duluth letter. "We don't conduct investigations, but we're looking at the letter to see who the appropriate investigative agency would be if there is probable cause to believe that there is a violation,'' Ford said.
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Harry Welty of Let Duluth Vote blamed himself for not reading the law carefully enough. He understood the law to require reports only for the promotion of an existing ballot question, not for trying to get a ballot question on the ballot through petitions.
"By golly we may be guilty of a misdemeanor,'' he said.
"If you try to get a referendum on a ballot then you've got to make reports. That's a two-way street -- if you're trying to get one on and trying to prevent one from getting on," Welty said in reference to those opposed to a referendum.
Welty said his group's motivation has been transparent from the beginning while claiming Move Forward Duluth's financing has been shrouded in secrecy.
Welty said a rough guess would be that Let Duluth Vote has raised about $45,000 from 2,000 people. He said about $20,000 has been spent on legal bills. He said he and a few others contributed more than $50.
"If anyone wants to know if there are deep pockets around here I'm about as deep as Let Duluth Votes goes,'' he said.
Let Duluth Vote claims its alternative plans cost far less than the school district's red plan and call for closing fewer schools, making more minor improvements to the rest of the district's buildings, and that the issue should be put to district voters.
