MONTICELLO - Monticello school district residents approved a 2.6-percent budget decrease for the 2010-11 school year at the annual meeting Sept. 27.
The district budget is about $5.6 million. In 2009-10, the district budget was about $5.8 million.
Superintendent Karen Ballin said the district was able to save money because it made some cuts and consolidated some duties. She said the district combined the agriculture and technology education classes, reduced a secretarial position, reduced summer custodial help and consolidated the mid-day 4-year-old kindergarten transportation into one route.
The district received grants to help upgrade technology in the district, which saved the district money it otherwise would have had to spend, Ballin said.
In addition, Ballin said, the district looked for new ways to share services and resources with other districts. In July, the district approved an agreement with Juda to share Monticello's pupil services director, and with Albany to share that district's psychologist. Monticello could save up to $6,000 a year by sharing services with the two districts.
Ballin said the school district plans to look at other ways it can share services and reduce costs.
While the overall budget has declined, the tax levy, the total amount district residents will pay for the 2010-11 budget, increased .85 percent. This year's levy is about $2.29 million, compared to $2.27 million in 2009-10. This is the second year of a six-year referendum that passed in 2008, and the referendum increases the levy, she said.
Last year, the district's tax rate was $11.95 per thousand of equalized property valuation.
Ballin wouldn't estimate the tax rate for the 2010-11 school year. She said the district doesn't have enough information about the equalized property values to make an estimate for the 2010-11 school year. Ballin said the state certifies the equalized value information on Oct. 15.
The board will give final approval for the budget in October.
The district budget is about $5.6 million. In 2009-10, the district budget was about $5.8 million.
Superintendent Karen Ballin said the district was able to save money because it made some cuts and consolidated some duties. She said the district combined the agriculture and technology education classes, reduced a secretarial position, reduced summer custodial help and consolidated the mid-day 4-year-old kindergarten transportation into one route.
The district received grants to help upgrade technology in the district, which saved the district money it otherwise would have had to spend, Ballin said.
In addition, Ballin said, the district looked for new ways to share services and resources with other districts. In July, the district approved an agreement with Juda to share Monticello's pupil services director, and with Albany to share that district's psychologist. Monticello could save up to $6,000 a year by sharing services with the two districts.
Ballin said the school district plans to look at other ways it can share services and reduce costs.
While the overall budget has declined, the tax levy, the total amount district residents will pay for the 2010-11 budget, increased .85 percent. This year's levy is about $2.29 million, compared to $2.27 million in 2009-10. This is the second year of a six-year referendum that passed in 2008, and the referendum increases the levy, she said.
Last year, the district's tax rate was $11.95 per thousand of equalized property valuation.
Ballin wouldn't estimate the tax rate for the 2010-11 school year. She said the district doesn't have enough information about the equalized property values to make an estimate for the 2010-11 school year. Ballin said the state certifies the equalized value information on Oct. 15.
The board will give final approval for the budget in October.