A proposed tax levy increase of $264,204 was the main topic of discussion during three community gatherings this week leading up to the Bonduel School District’s annual meeting Monday.
During the final “coffee chat” at the Cecil Diner on Thursday, Superintendent Patrick Rau said he believes the proposed levy will go down before the budget is finalized.
“With the property tax levy, I don’t expect that would go up,” Rau said. “I expect we will get some more state aid, which will take a chunk of that proposed levy and lower it when it comes to October.”
According to the budget, last year’s property tax levy was $4,410,642. With the proposed increase, it would climb to $4,674,846.
The tax rate is projected to increase from $9.93 per $1,000 of equalized valuation to $10.52 per $1,000. The owner of a $100,000 home who paid $993 in school taxes last year would pay $1,052 this year, according to the projections.
The proposed budget is based on a zero percent increase in equalized property value. Property values increased 2.35 percent from 2012-13 to 2013-14.
If property values increase more than expected, it would mean a lower tax rate. If values decrease, the tax rate could go higher.
Rau said state funding for the school district is projected to be down $200,000 from last year, but final aid, budget and levy numbers won’t be known until October, when the board has final enrollment numbers and statewide equalization valuation results.
According to Rau, the school district has been frugal the last four years and has increased its fund balance from $1.1 million to $1.3 million.
“On a good year, we budget and end up in June with $100,000 left over, and we put that into a fund balance, but our state aid will go down because we didn’t spend it (throughout the year),” Rau said.
The Common Core Standards, which define expectations for scores in mathematics and English-Language Arts, were also discussed at the coffee chats.
Residents raised concerns that student progress cannot be determined entirely by a number determined by the standards.
While Rau said it is hard to quantify a lot of the development kids go through at school, the Common Core Standards will show each district’s progress.
“Every school has a report card now,” Rau said. “Those report cards are public, and we are going to be judged on them. You are naturally going to make sure that you are preparing your kids to do as well as they can on those tests.”
Rau, formerly principal at Bonduel High School, took over as the district superintendent after Peter Behnke retired on June 30.
Rau hosted three coffee chats throughout the week to introduce himself to district residents and answer any questions.
Chats also were held at the Hungry Bear in Bonduel on Tuesday and the Navarino/Lessor Fire Department on Wednesday.
“We are going to repeat this process throughout the year,” Rau said. “It’s a chance to open up those closed communication lines between the school and residents and answer some questions.”
Bonduel resident Joanne Fink said even though the district is not certain on where the budget will settle, she was glad to have the opportunity to ask questions.
“I thought it went good,” Fink said. “I got to ask my questions. Any time taxes are going up, I want to know why.”
Rau said the interest community members have shown in the district has been encouraging, and he is happy to discuss what is happening at the schools.
“It’s been great,” Rau said. “Everybody was very thankful and had a chance to ask a couple of questions. We had a lot of positive feedback.”
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