Budget projection indicates slight levy increase but lower mill rates for Elk Mound school district

By Cara L. Dempski

ELK MOUND — Those unfamiliar with local or school tax levies and how they are calculated might find the Elk Mound Area School District’s proposed 2017-2018 budget a little confusing.

District residents in attendance at the August 21 budget hearing and annual meeting learned the projected levy for the upcoming school year is $2,756,654, which is an increase of $11,763 over the 2016-2017 budget.

Despite the slight raise in the taxpayer levy, the budget summary showed a decrease in gross mill rates for property owners living in the district. District residents paid $874.17 per $100,000 of property value in tax levies to the local schools last year, but will likely pay just $835.35 per $100,000 for the upcoming year.

Superintendent Eric Wright offered a simple explanation for why the full levy amount increased by the mill rate decreased. According to the Elk Mound administrator, the mill rate could have gone down for a variety of reasons, but the decrease is likely because of changes in value assessments or an increase in local properties to share the cost.

Elk Mound’s full budget is projected to be $15,888,309, which is $308,106 more than budgeted for 2016-2017.

The district receives between 70 and 80 percent of its annual funds from state aid, but does not have firm numbers for the new school year due to a budget impasse at the state capitol. State statute dictates all local school boards set an appropriate levy on or before November 1 each year for district operations and/or debt obligations.

Board treasurer Gary Bodenburg explained the full budget summary to the board and district residents before board president Tim Sivertson adjourned the hearing to call the annual meeting to order.

Annual meeting

The district’s annual meeting opened with the election of Tim Sivertson as chairman.

After approving board member salaries at $1,750 annual for officers and $1,500 for members, the assembled district residents voted to keep board member mileage rates on par with the rate for district personnel, and to offer a $110 per diem, plus actual and necessary expenses, for board member travel outside the district.

Residents also approved the purchase of necessary textbooks and to provide school lunches, appropriate funds to provide the same, and charge reasonable prices for meals provided.

The motion to set the proposed levy of $2,756,654 was approved unanimously.

In other business, meeting attendees:

• Approved authorization for the school board to provide legal defense on its behalf, and/or to seek legal counsel in cases in which it is interested.

• Approved setting a school term with direct instruction hours of no less than 437 hours for kindergarten, 1,050 hours for grades one through six, and 1,137 hours for grades seven through 12.

• Approved a motion for the school board to set a date for the 2018 annual meeting between May 15 and October 31.