School district plans less than 1 cent raise for levy

The Fairfield Community School District Board of Directors will have a public hearing on the 2011-2012 budget and tax levy during its regular monthly meeting set for 7 p.m. Monday at the Administration/Curriculum/Technology Center.

Business manager Kim Sheets explained the total proposed tax levy is $15.49041 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The current year?s tax levy is $15.46194 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The increase would be 0.02847 cent ? less than two-tenths of 1 percent.

The valuation of property in the Fairfield school district increased 4.03 percent for a total taxable valuation, including gas and electric utilities, of $578,245,000. The school district?s tax levy would generate $8,960,219.

?There won?t be too many changes,? said district business manager Kim Sheets. ?That?s a good thing.?

The district has a budget guarantee in place because of its declining enrollment. The guarantee gives the district authority to make up shortfalls in funding through the property tax levy so the district?s funding remains somewhat more constant, explained Sheets. The board resolved during its meeting March 14 to levy property tax for fiscal year 2011-12 for the regular program budget adjustment.

Sheets said the instructional support levy, which was approved by voters, will be expiring in 2012.

?That?s something we have to start talking about ? renewing that,? said Sheets.

She said the school board?s finance committee anticipates asking voters for a renewal of the instructional support levy on the September school board election ballot.

During the school board?s public hearing Monday, Sheets will give a Power Point presentation explaining the proposed 2011-12 budget and tax-asking, and then, members of the public can ask questions, present objections to or arguments in favor of any part of the proposed budget before the board takes action on the proposal.

A notice of the public hearing, including a summary of supporting details on revenues and expenditures, was published in The Ledger March 28. Sheets can furnish a copy of the revenue and expenditure details on request.

The funds generated by the property tax levy, in addition to the funds received from federal, state, local and other programs and sources pay for the district?s operating costs.

April 15 is the final date to file the budget with the county auditor and the Iowa Department of Management.

Sheets said the Iowa Department of Management could make final edits to the district?s submitted budget and tax-levy based on any last-minute laws approved by the Iowa Legislature before it adjourns.

As of Monday afternoon, the Legislature had not set an allowable growth for the 2011-12 school year.

?That?s a biggie. We?re kind of waiting,? said Sheets, adding that throughout her career in school finance she?s never had to wait this long for an allowable growth figure to be set.

Because the district doesn?t know what the allowable growth will be, it published its budget using a zero percent allowable growth, Sheets explained.

?Gov. Branstad is sticking with a zero percent, but a 2 percent would be nice,? she said.