Whitnall School District Budget Reflects Tax Levy Drop

With the approval of the 2011-12 budget at the annual meeting Monday, property owners within the district are slated to pay slightly less in taxes to the district.

With the drop in the mill rate from $10.30 last fiscal year to $9.75 this year, and a minus-5.31 percent decrease in the tax levy from $16,500,387 to $15,623,744, an owner of a $200,000 property will pay $110 less in taxes.

The final levy can be adjusted by Nov. 1 by the school board based on final property values, changes to state aid and the total number of students enrolled in the district as of the third Friday of the school year, according to interim business manager Doug Johnson.

“We think this budget is a responsible budget that meets the needs of children in the district without being too hard to the taxpayers,” Johnson said.

This year’s budget also represents an increase in debt service payments and capital projects. Last year, the district’s general fund accounted for 81 percent of the total budget, with special projects accounting for 13 percent.

This year, the general fund is just 64 percent and the special projects portion is just 8 percent. That’s because the net total expenditures is up 42.6 percent this year to $37,978,262 as the and fund a at the high school.

The budget was approved unanimously by the electors.

In other business at the annual meeting, electors approved a raise of $100 per year for school board members. The board president will now make $3,400 and all members will make $3,200.

Board member T.J. Anderson made the motion for the raise.

“Other school districts play their board members more, some up to the $5,000 or $6,000,” Anderson said. “I don’t think anyone on this board thinks this is a truly paid position … but the cost of everything has gone up and all I’m looking for is additional help to cover those costs.”

The motion passed with just one dissenting vote.