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Darlington schools may not levy full amount from referendum
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DARLINGTON - Darlington taxpayers may not have to come up with the entire $700,000 they approved in a referendum last winter.

The Darlington school board approved a budget of $10,940,665, up from last year's $10,419,233, at its annual meeting Monday, Superintendent Joseph Galle said. That means a projected tax levy of $2,783,305, up from $2,559,912 last year.

The tax rate would be $10.44 per thousand of assessed valuation, up from $9.94 last year.

All numbers are preliminary. Final numbers depend on official enrollment counts taken in September and equalization values that are available in October, Galle said.

Earlier this year, the distrist passed a referendum to exceed state revenue caps by $700,000. Galle said depending on how final numbers come out, the district may have to only levy an additional $500,000 to $550,000. Current budget numbers assume the district will levy the entire $700,000 amount.

Declining enrollment may be a deciding factor. Galle said enrollment dropped by 6 to 18 students last year and looks like it will be down another 9 or 10 students this year. Less enrollment means less state aid, he said. Enrollments are expected to even out and even increase in the next few years, however.