Equalized value up by 5.5%, mill rate down by 9.3 percent in Boyceville school district

By LeAnn R. Ralph

BOYCEVILLE  —  Equalized value in the Boyceville school district has increased by $14 million this year (5.5 percent), and the projected mill rate is expected to decrease by 9.3 percent.

According to information presented at the Boyceville school district’s annual meeting Monday night, last year’s mill rate was $12.66 per $1,000 of property value, and this year’s mill rate is projected to be $11.48 per $1,000 of property value, representing a 9.3 percent decrease.

The equalized value in the school district this year is $270.3 million, compared to an equalized value last year of $256 million.

School district officials are expecting to find out the exact amount of state aid later in the week, said Kevin Sipple, district administrator.

When the amount of state aid is confirmed, then the budget numbers can be finalized in time for the Boyceville Board of Education to set the tax levy at the October 26 board meeting, he said.

This year’s total levy is expected to be $3.1 million, compared to last year’s levy of $3.24 million.

The decrease in the mill rate will be due to two factors: a decrease in the debt levy of $200,000 because the school board refinanced the district’s debt, and the increase in the equalized value, Sipple said.

Because of all of the uncertainty concerning the state budget earlier this year, the school district put off buying a bus so the money would be available if it were needed elsewhere, he said.

The school district’s budget for 2015-2016 of $8.52 million compares to last year’s budget of $8.35 million.

The budget increase is due to increases in salaries and benefits and increases in utility costs. The special education budget can also increase, depending upon the students who attend school in district, and open enrollment is “a moving target,” Sipple said.

The school district has $8.5 million in debt, but the school district had $14 million in debt when Sipple started working in the district in 2008-2009, he said.

The state budget has decreased school spending every year since 2008, Sipple noted.

Enrollment in the school district has gradually been decreasing, and when the number of students decreases, the amount of state aid also decreases, he said.

The decrease in enrollment is predictable, because “Wisconsin is shrinking,” Sipple said, adding that as the enrollment has declined, the school district has been cutting staff.

According to information in the annual meeting booklet, the Boyceville school district had 926 students in 2002 and has 730 students this year.

The food service budget will increase this year to $387,300, compared to $380,000 last year. The revenue budget for 2014-2015 was $358,262.

The beginning fund balance in food service is $118,579, compared to $140,372 last year, Sipple said.

The state Department of Public Instruction said a fund balance of a little over $140,000 was too much, so the school district spent down the fund balance to buy food service equipment, he said.

School board

During the school district’s annual meeting, a motion from the audience was approved to increase the Board of Education’s annual compensation by $200, to increase the per diem from $75 per day to $100 and to increase the per diem for a half day from $40 to $50.

Prior to the increase, the board chair received annual compensation of $1,950; the clerk and treasurer received $1,550, and the other board members received $1,400.

School board members are paid per diem when they travel outside of the school district on school board business and also are reimbursed for actual mileage, meals and other necessary expenses.

The school board salaries and per diem payments have not increased in many years.

Gail Stark, who retired as the school board president this spring, said the school board salaries had not increased since the school board had gone from being paid per meeting to an annual salary.

Stark first took office in September of 1996 after applying to fill a vacancy when another school board member had resigned.

The Boyceville Board of Education’s next regular monthly meeting is October 26.