MONROE - Most taxpayers in the Monroe school district could see an average $41 reduction or more on their property tax bill compared to last year after the school board approved an adjusted final 2013-14 budget.
The school board Monday, Oct. 28 unanimously approved a total $28.5 million budget that includes a $1.71 million deficit. Last year's budget was $27.4 million.
The school district's adjusted total levy is $11.1 million, which represents a 3.18 percent decrease compared to last year. The levy is about $500,000 less than district leaders projected in the budget they approved at their annual meeting last week.
"All of the budget adjustments are driven by the PEP grant, the Colony Brands gift or Title I funding," Monroe Business Manager Ron Olson said. "It's better news than last week and better than other districts that were having reductions in aid."
The decline in the levy and property taxes for school district residents stems from the district receiving $521,000 more in estimated state aid than what the district initially projected, including an estimated $106,034 in aid as part of Gov. Scott Walker's recent $100 million tax cut that is being dispersed to school districts to bring local levies down.
The adjusted mill rate is $11.24 per $1,000 of assessed value, compared to $11.65 last year. School district taxes on a $100,000 house will be $1,124.18, a 3.52 percent decrease or $41 less than last year. School district taxes on a $150,000 house will be $1,686.27, a 3.52 percent decrease or $61 less than last year.
However, two of the 11 municipalities in the district will see a school district property tax increase.
Olson said the Town of Jordan's valuation increased 10.4 percent this year and residents in the town will pay 6.57 percent more in their portion of the school levy. Olson said the Town of Monroe saw a 4.8 percent increase in valuation and residents there will see a 1.1 percent increase in their portion of the levy.
Olson said he wasn't sure what caused the Town of Jordan's increase in valuation. "It might be the Klondike construction. If you double the size of your house or a large business comes in, those can impact the dollars from one part of the district to another."
This year's total budget is more than last year because it includes $423,080 of a $953,555 three-year PEP grant the district received from the U.S. Department of Education to bolster K-12 physical education, fitness and nutrition programs and equipment as well as a $100,000 gift from Colony Brands for technology upgrades in the district including the iPad initiative at Monroe Middle School.
Last year, the district operated the year with a $1 million deficit. Olson said the district finished 2012-13 with about a $600,000 deficit it plugged through fund balance.
In another development with financial implications, Monroe School Board Vice President Scott Schmidt said the district has reached a tentative contract with the Monroe Education Association. Terms of the contract weren't released. Teachers in the district will meet Wednesday to vote whether to ratify the contract.
Monroe School District Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner said if the teachers ratify the contract, the board could approve it at its next meeting in November.
The school board Monday, Oct. 28 unanimously approved a total $28.5 million budget that includes a $1.71 million deficit. Last year's budget was $27.4 million.
The school district's adjusted total levy is $11.1 million, which represents a 3.18 percent decrease compared to last year. The levy is about $500,000 less than district leaders projected in the budget they approved at their annual meeting last week.
"All of the budget adjustments are driven by the PEP grant, the Colony Brands gift or Title I funding," Monroe Business Manager Ron Olson said. "It's better news than last week and better than other districts that were having reductions in aid."
The decline in the levy and property taxes for school district residents stems from the district receiving $521,000 more in estimated state aid than what the district initially projected, including an estimated $106,034 in aid as part of Gov. Scott Walker's recent $100 million tax cut that is being dispersed to school districts to bring local levies down.
The adjusted mill rate is $11.24 per $1,000 of assessed value, compared to $11.65 last year. School district taxes on a $100,000 house will be $1,124.18, a 3.52 percent decrease or $41 less than last year. School district taxes on a $150,000 house will be $1,686.27, a 3.52 percent decrease or $61 less than last year.
However, two of the 11 municipalities in the district will see a school district property tax increase.
Olson said the Town of Jordan's valuation increased 10.4 percent this year and residents in the town will pay 6.57 percent more in their portion of the school levy. Olson said the Town of Monroe saw a 4.8 percent increase in valuation and residents there will see a 1.1 percent increase in their portion of the levy.
Olson said he wasn't sure what caused the Town of Jordan's increase in valuation. "It might be the Klondike construction. If you double the size of your house or a large business comes in, those can impact the dollars from one part of the district to another."
This year's total budget is more than last year because it includes $423,080 of a $953,555 three-year PEP grant the district received from the U.S. Department of Education to bolster K-12 physical education, fitness and nutrition programs and equipment as well as a $100,000 gift from Colony Brands for technology upgrades in the district including the iPad initiative at Monroe Middle School.
Last year, the district operated the year with a $1 million deficit. Olson said the district finished 2012-13 with about a $600,000 deficit it plugged through fund balance.
In another development with financial implications, Monroe School Board Vice President Scott Schmidt said the district has reached a tentative contract with the Monroe Education Association. Terms of the contract weren't released. Teachers in the district will meet Wednesday to vote whether to ratify the contract.
Monroe School District Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner said if the teachers ratify the contract, the board could approve it at its next meeting in November.