NEILLSVILLE DISTRICT LEVY HIGHER THAN PROJECTED
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 -- 12:54 PM
The Neillsville school district\'s levy will be significantly higher than projected, due to provisions included in the late state budget.During the annual meeting in August, the district was presented with a budget based on "guesstimates" because the state legislature had not finalized their state budget, which includes aid for K-12 districts.
Neillsville superintendent John Gaier says the board Tuesday had to approve a modified budget that will levy $3.28-million dollars. That\'s an increase of over $200,000 from the budget approved in August.
Several provisions in the state budget impacted Neillsville\'s bottom line.
Neillsville is a declining enrollment district, but the legislature included a "hold harmless" provision that doesn\'t penalize them under the revenue cap. Therefore, they could gain more money through the levy, Gaier says.
The board decided to raise the levy by $45,000 less than allowed under the provision, Gaier notes.
And, because the budget was passed so late, the state could not increase state aid through the funding formula. Instead, they used the levy tax credit, which hurts property-poor districts like Neillsville, according to reports.
The district\'s mil rate is projected to be $7.66 per thousand dollars of property.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.