MONROE - Despite holding its 2010-11 budget to an increase of less than half a percent, Monroe school district residents will be paying 2.7 percent more for this year's school taxes.
The Monroe school board and a handful of residents approved a .42 percent budget increase for the 2010-11 school year at Monday's annual meeting.
The 2010-11 budget is about $30.4 million, an increase of about $128,000 over the 2009-10 school budget of $30.3 million.
The district has tried to keep expenses down, said Larry Brown, district superintendent.
"The board has been fiscally responsible," Brown said. "We appreciate the board's efforts to manage our funds."
Ron Olson, district business administrator, said about 81 percent of the district's expenditures is for salaries and benefits.
Olson said the overall cost for educating students increased about 1.6 percent in the 2010-11 budget, from about $13.9 million last year to about $14.1 million this year. Other areas, such as support services, which includes general district administration and business administration, decreased about .04 percent.
The tax levy, or the total tax amount district residents will pay of the 2010-11 budget, is about $12.2 million, an increase of about 2.7 percent, over the 2009-10 levy of $11.9 million.
Olson said the tax levy increased because the state reduced the amount of aid to the district by about $278,000. The district expects to receive about $17.8 million this year, compared to about $18 million it received last year. About 59 percent of the district's revenue comes from state aid, Olson said.
"When state aid decreases, the amount of money needed at the local level increases," he said.
The tax rate approved at the annual meeting is $12.15 per $1,000 of equalized property valuation. That is an increase of 32 cents from last year's $11.83. That means a Monroe district resident with a home valued at $100,000 will pay $1,215 in school taxes, compared to $1,183 last year. A farm valued at $300,000 would be assessed $3,645 in school district taxes, compared to $3,549 for last year.
The final tax rate for the district will be approved by the school board at its Nov. 1 meeting.
There were three people the annual meeting, besides the board and school employees. Residents are allowed to vote at the annual meeting
Next year's annual meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 17 in the district administrative center in the Monroe Public Library.
The Monroe school board and a handful of residents approved a .42 percent budget increase for the 2010-11 school year at Monday's annual meeting.
The 2010-11 budget is about $30.4 million, an increase of about $128,000 over the 2009-10 school budget of $30.3 million.
The district has tried to keep expenses down, said Larry Brown, district superintendent.
"The board has been fiscally responsible," Brown said. "We appreciate the board's efforts to manage our funds."
Ron Olson, district business administrator, said about 81 percent of the district's expenditures is for salaries and benefits.
Olson said the overall cost for educating students increased about 1.6 percent in the 2010-11 budget, from about $13.9 million last year to about $14.1 million this year. Other areas, such as support services, which includes general district administration and business administration, decreased about .04 percent.
The tax levy, or the total tax amount district residents will pay of the 2010-11 budget, is about $12.2 million, an increase of about 2.7 percent, over the 2009-10 levy of $11.9 million.
Olson said the tax levy increased because the state reduced the amount of aid to the district by about $278,000. The district expects to receive about $17.8 million this year, compared to about $18 million it received last year. About 59 percent of the district's revenue comes from state aid, Olson said.
"When state aid decreases, the amount of money needed at the local level increases," he said.
The tax rate approved at the annual meeting is $12.15 per $1,000 of equalized property valuation. That is an increase of 32 cents from last year's $11.83. That means a Monroe district resident with a home valued at $100,000 will pay $1,215 in school taxes, compared to $1,183 last year. A farm valued at $300,000 would be assessed $3,645 in school district taxes, compared to $3,549 for last year.
The final tax rate for the district will be approved by the school board at its Nov. 1 meeting.
There were three people the annual meeting, besides the board and school employees. Residents are allowed to vote at the annual meeting
Next year's annual meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 17 in the district administrative center in the Monroe Public Library.