MONROE - A decline in equalized property values and the addition of a new, part-time employee at the public library is driving the tax rate for Monroe school district residents 30 cents higher than the amount approved at the district's annual meeting two weeks ago.
Ron Olson, district business administrator, said the increase was due to a 1.8 percent decline in equalized values in the district. The tax rate approved at Monday's school board meeting was $12.45 per $1,000 of equalized property valuation. That amount is 30 cents higher, or about 2.5 percent, than the tax rate of $12.15 approved at the annual meeting Oct. 18.
The district had about $1 billion in equalized assessed valuation in 2009-10. In 2010-11, valuation declined to about $986 million. Officials did not yet have final equalized assessed valuation numbers at the time of the annual meeting.
"When you have a deduction in the property values, it drives up the (tax) rate," Olson said.
The board voted to increase the levy by about $67,000 after it agreed to hire a part-time position at the Monroe Public Library and increase hours for some staff at the library.
Board member Bob Erb voted against the tax rate increase, after raising questions about why the library board added another position.
Board member Brian Keith, who also serves on the library board, said the board decided to ask the district for extra money to increase staff and hours. Olson said the school board could have voted against the extra spending, but it wanted to work with the library board, which needed more help.
The new tax levy is about $12.3 million, compared to the $12.2 million approved Oct. 18. Erb also voted against the levy increase.
In 2009-10, the tax rate was $11.83. The new tax rate is 5.21 percent higher than the 2009-10 rate.
Under the new tax rate, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 will pay $1,245 in school taxes. A farm valued at $300,000 would be assessed $3,735 in school taxes.
The overall 2010-11 budget of $30.4 million, approved at the annual meeting, remains the same. The 2010-11 budget is about $128,000 more than the 2009-10 budget of $30.3 million.
Despite the fact the tax levy increased by about $67,000, the actual budget won't change because money for the library staff is from a different fund from the general budget, Olson said.
Ron Olson, district business administrator, said the increase was due to a 1.8 percent decline in equalized values in the district. The tax rate approved at Monday's school board meeting was $12.45 per $1,000 of equalized property valuation. That amount is 30 cents higher, or about 2.5 percent, than the tax rate of $12.15 approved at the annual meeting Oct. 18.
The district had about $1 billion in equalized assessed valuation in 2009-10. In 2010-11, valuation declined to about $986 million. Officials did not yet have final equalized assessed valuation numbers at the time of the annual meeting.
"When you have a deduction in the property values, it drives up the (tax) rate," Olson said.
The board voted to increase the levy by about $67,000 after it agreed to hire a part-time position at the Monroe Public Library and increase hours for some staff at the library.
Board member Bob Erb voted against the tax rate increase, after raising questions about why the library board added another position.
Board member Brian Keith, who also serves on the library board, said the board decided to ask the district for extra money to increase staff and hours. Olson said the school board could have voted against the extra spending, but it wanted to work with the library board, which needed more help.
The new tax levy is about $12.3 million, compared to the $12.2 million approved Oct. 18. Erb also voted against the levy increase.
In 2009-10, the tax rate was $11.83. The new tax rate is 5.21 percent higher than the 2009-10 rate.
Under the new tax rate, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 will pay $1,245 in school taxes. A farm valued at $300,000 would be assessed $3,735 in school taxes.
The overall 2010-11 budget of $30.4 million, approved at the annual meeting, remains the same. The 2010-11 budget is about $128,000 more than the 2009-10 budget of $30.3 million.
Despite the fact the tax levy increased by about $67,000, the actual budget won't change because money for the library staff is from a different fund from the general budget, Olson said.