MONROE - Enrollment in the Monroe school district dropped more than expected this year, but at least attendance was up for the district's annual meeting Monday night.
Three community members - three more than most years - attended the school board meeting where Business Administrator Ron Olson presented the 2015-16 budget.
The school board and the attending community members approved the budget with $28.3 million in general fund expenditures, which represents a .3-percent reduction from last year's final numbers at about $28.4 million. General fund revenues are budgeted at $27.4 million, a 1.1-percent reduction from last year's $27.7 million.
Total expenditures across the district, including debt service and food service, are budgeted at $38.2 million. Olson said most of the district's $5.4 million in outstanding debt is set to run out by 2019.
Olson reported that 2,406 students enrolled for the 2015-16 school year, which is 68 students less than last year's enrollment of 2,474 students, or a 2.7-percent decrease. At a September meeting, Olson said the decrease makes Monroe eligible for a one-year exemption from the state that will help with its revenue limit. That exemption won't help beyond this year, and the enrollment drop will lower revenue for the next few years.
A total tax levy for 2015-16 of $10,982,746 is included in the budget. That's a .68-percent increase over the 2014-15 levy of $10,908,208. But Olson predicts the total levy will rise above $11 million once he factors in the final state aid numbers.
Board member Brian Keith noted that the district has decreased expenditures from last year.
"This change is 100 percent related to the dollars that we're getting from the state," Keith said. "Everything that everybody says that (the state) gave us money back, things are better - that's completely not true."
In the approved budget, the tax rate is set at $10.72 per $1,000 of a home's value, also a .68-percent increase. That translates to $804 in school-related taxes for the owner of a $75,000 home, compared to $799 last year. The owner of a $200,000 house would pay $2,145, compared to $2,130 last year.
However, both state aid and property valuations will affect that tax rate. Olson said property valuations will go up by 1.8 percent, whereas the approved budget only accounts for steady property valuations. He predicts the tax rate will be about $10.68 per $1,000 of a home's value, instead of $10.72.
The school board is expected to approve the adjusted budget, including the final aid numbers and property valuations, at the next meeting.
The community members said they came because Olson and District Administrator Cory Hirsbrunner spoke at a recent Optimists meeting. Members of the public can make motions and vote at the annual meeting as advisories to the board, Hirsbrunner said.
Board members Amy Bazley and Scott Schmidt were absent.
Three community members - three more than most years - attended the school board meeting where Business Administrator Ron Olson presented the 2015-16 budget.
The school board and the attending community members approved the budget with $28.3 million in general fund expenditures, which represents a .3-percent reduction from last year's final numbers at about $28.4 million. General fund revenues are budgeted at $27.4 million, a 1.1-percent reduction from last year's $27.7 million.
Total expenditures across the district, including debt service and food service, are budgeted at $38.2 million. Olson said most of the district's $5.4 million in outstanding debt is set to run out by 2019.
Olson reported that 2,406 students enrolled for the 2015-16 school year, which is 68 students less than last year's enrollment of 2,474 students, or a 2.7-percent decrease. At a September meeting, Olson said the decrease makes Monroe eligible for a one-year exemption from the state that will help with its revenue limit. That exemption won't help beyond this year, and the enrollment drop will lower revenue for the next few years.
A total tax levy for 2015-16 of $10,982,746 is included in the budget. That's a .68-percent increase over the 2014-15 levy of $10,908,208. But Olson predicts the total levy will rise above $11 million once he factors in the final state aid numbers.
Board member Brian Keith noted that the district has decreased expenditures from last year.
"This change is 100 percent related to the dollars that we're getting from the state," Keith said. "Everything that everybody says that (the state) gave us money back, things are better - that's completely not true."
In the approved budget, the tax rate is set at $10.72 per $1,000 of a home's value, also a .68-percent increase. That translates to $804 in school-related taxes for the owner of a $75,000 home, compared to $799 last year. The owner of a $200,000 house would pay $2,145, compared to $2,130 last year.
However, both state aid and property valuations will affect that tax rate. Olson said property valuations will go up by 1.8 percent, whereas the approved budget only accounts for steady property valuations. He predicts the tax rate will be about $10.68 per $1,000 of a home's value, instead of $10.72.
The school board is expected to approve the adjusted budget, including the final aid numbers and property valuations, at the next meeting.
The community members said they came because Olson and District Administrator Cory Hirsbrunner spoke at a recent Optimists meeting. Members of the public can make motions and vote at the annual meeting as advisories to the board, Hirsbrunner said.
Board members Amy Bazley and Scott Schmidt were absent.