Property owners can expect a slight reduction in their school taxes this year as the School Board on Monday approved a $44.2 million levy that is less than 1 percent higher than last year.
The levy, which will be presented to residents at a July 27 annual meeting, would result in about a $30 tax cut for the owner of a $250,000 home.
Before the action was taken, there was debate among board members over whether the board should levy more than it actually needs to fund the 2009-2010 budget.
Superintendent Paul Kreutzer had recommended the levy be set at $900,000 more than what the district planned to spend next year because it's still uncertain how much state aid the district will receive. If state aid is less than expected, having a $900,000 cushion should ensure that the district would not have to raise its levy after it's approved by voters at the annual meeting.
"I certainly wouldn't want to be the one to answer to those taxpayers" if the levy goes up, Kreutzer said. He said the levy could still be adjusted downward in October if the cushion is not needed. State aid and other budget factors will be known then.
But the board instead approved a levy that calls for a $600,000 cushion.
"We need to get tough," said board President John Kegel. "We need to take a little bit of a bite to meet the needs of taxpayers."
He and the three other board members voting with him - Matt Thomas, Art Marquardt and Joan Doberstein - were willing to risk either having to cut spending later or raise taxes if the state aid picture turns bleak.
Board members Dave Maxey and Susan Manley voted against the $600,000 cushion.
Manley wanted no cushion at all.
Indeed, a smaller cushion had some support. A motion to approve a levy with a $300,000 cushion failed on a 3-3 vote, with board member Peggy LaSalle absent.
The $44.2 million levy would support a 2009-2010 budget of more than $60 million.
A zero-percent levy increase would have trimmed roughly $66 from school taxes on a home with an equalized, or fair market, value of $250,000, Kreutzer said. The levy increase headed to the annual meeting would trim roughly $30, he said. The figures are only estimates because they are based in part on how much the property values will grow this year within the district.
The board in October was able to lower the levy that taxpayers had approved in last summer.
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