School tax levy poised to drop

Talk about it

School District 206 residents will see a change on their school tax statement next year.

A welcome change, that is.

At Monday night’s regular school board meeting, Tom Wieczorek, business director for the district, noted that there is a decrease in this year’s preliminary tax levy.

The preliminary total net levy for 2009, which is payable in 2010, is $7.75 million. Last year’s total net levy was $8.13 million.

This is a decrease of 4.60 percent, said Wieczorek.

The statewide average for tax levies this year is an increase of 10.10 percent, he added.

Wieczorek explained to school board members that there are two reasons for the decrease.

The first reason, he said, is that the lease levy will be coming off the Spirit building next year, which is where the school district offices and early childhood programs were located before Woodland Elementary School opened.

The lease, which amounts to $162,000, impacts the general fund.

The second reason is because of the district’s debt service excess. This resulted in a reduction of $219,000 in debt services, said Wieczorek, which helps to lower the overall tax levy.

After he explained the tax levy to school board members and administrators at Monday night’s meeting, the proposed tax levy was set at the maximum amount and approved.

Wieczorek said the district levied the maximum amount allowed in case there are changes from the state. He also noted that the levy wouldn’t be finalized until December.

Tax statements should be mailed sometime in November, although the amounts are preliminary.

Actual tax statements will be mailed next spring and may include changes, said Wieczorek. The school tax levy is only one piece of the puzzle that determines a property owner’s tax.

Here are a few other factors that may increase or decrease taxes:

•Change in county levy.

•Change in city levy.

•Change in township levy.

•Change in school district levy.

•Change in market value of parcel.

•Change in homestead determination.

Wieczorek noted that this year, the district will not be holding its annual Truth in Taxation meeting because of changes made at the state level. Instead, the public will have time to comment on the tax levy at the school board’s regular meeting planned for December.

The final levy amount will be sent to the state after the December regular school board meeting. Formulas for the tax levy are set by the state Legislature, except for voter-approved referendums.

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