Gillett School District residents will get some relief on their December tax bills, based on the levy approved at the annual meeting Wednesday. About 30 people voted unanimously to approve the $2.919 million tax levy, a decrease of 6.7 percent from last year.
The decrease means taxpayers owning property valued at $100,000 will pay $1,080 in taxes, a decrease of about $80 or about 3 percent from last year.
The School Board proposed a balanced budget of $7.054 million for the year, $274,528 less than last year.
“We’ve worked very hard to balance the budget,” District Administrator Todd Carlson said.
State aid accounts for 57 percent of revenue for the district, property taxes for 36 percent and federal aid for 3 percent. State aid for Gillett this year is projected to be down $140,100, continuing a trend of declining aid that totalled $497,000 over the last three years.
Carlson said reductions in state aid mean the district needs more support from taxpayers in order to provide quality education to students. State aid is based on equalized property value and the total student count, which is declining in the district. Enrollment is estimated at 549 students for the 2014-15 school year, 20 students fewer than last year.
According to Carlson, the district wants to focus on four main areas: student needs, quality staff, maintaining facilities and being mindful of taxpayers.
He said the heating system at the secondary school is in need of an upgrade. The original furnace, installed in 1927, is still in use. It was first used as a coal-burning furnace and then was upgraded to a boiler system.
“We need something more efficient for the school district,” Carlson said.
He said the district has a good plan for the upgrade.
Carlson also praised the staff in the district, saying only four educators left the district between the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years. He said the staff has a strong sense of camaraderie and works hard to improve student learning.
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