NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
NRHEG’s 2013 payable 2014 budget shows an approximately $200,000 increase in next year’s tax levy over previous years, as revealed at the district’s annual Truth in Taxation hearing Monday, Dec. 16 at 6:00 p.m. just preceding the regular monthly board meeting. This represents an approximately 16 percent increase.
The Truth in Taxation hearing is held every December for taxpayers’ information purposes, and is required by law if there is a substantial change in the levy amount from one year to the next.
The reason for the upcoming levy increase is building projects undertaken this year which required bond financing, including first payment on the new construction at New Richland, and extensive asbestos abatement.
The NRHEG school district maintains four funds: a General Fund, a Food Service Fund, a Community Education Fund, and a Debt Service Fund.The General Fund holds revenue based on student enrollment. The local referendum levy goes into the General Fund. The General Fund pays for classroom instruction, supplies, and educational equipment, Special Education, extra-curricular activities, student transportation, facilities operation and maintenance, capital expenditures and improvements, and Health and Safety Code compliance.
The General Fund revenue comes from: State Aid 82.08 percent, Local Taxes 8.18 percent, Other Local 5.64 percent, and Federal Aid 4.1 percent.
The Food Service Fund covers the school breakfast and lunch programs.
The Community Service Fund revenue is based on the adult population in the district. Early Childhood levy is based on number of children under 5 years old. The fund provides for ECFE, School Readiness, Adult Basic Education, and any enrichment programs that are not part of the regular K-12 program.
The Debt Service Fund is based on the district’s outstanding bonded indebtedness. That portion of the levy is for payment due on bonds.
The current debt is a result of the voter approved bond issue for the Ellendale building, and the non-voter-approved alternative and capital facilities bonds plus the first payment for the secondary remodel project.
The significant increase in next year’s tax levy is a reflection of state approved Health and Safety projects at the secondary building. The Ellendale building bond is scheduled to be paid out in 2015, at which time Ellendale area residents will see an accompanying reduction in their tax payment (the New Richland building was paid out in 2010).
2013-14 Budget Overview
The budget was set in January of 2013 and proposed budget approved in June.
Revenues % change
General $8,584,329 -4.08%
Food Svc 428,500 -7.08%
Comm. Svc 156,478 -3.75%
Debt Svc 776,586 34.09%
Total $9,945,893 2.03%
Expenditures % change
General 9.081,045 3.61%
Food Svc. 395,386 -11.47%
Comm. Svc. 153,827 -0.37%
Deb Svc. 765,614 14.83%
Total $10,395,872 3.62%
Levy Amount
In the regular meeting following the Truth in Taxation Hearing, the board approved the following tax levies for general purposes:
Maintenance $ 728,667.91
(includes referendum)
Community Service 61.221.06
Debt Service 783,940.48
Total $1,573,829.45
Other Business
Also in the regular meeting, the 2013-2014 Master Agreement with the NRHEG paraprofessionals Association was approved. The agreement represents a 2.7 percent increase.
A donation from Kay Thibodeaux of $1,115.10 for the Cheerleaders was approved.
The annual Organizational Meeting was set for Monday, Jan. 6, 2014 at 5:00 p.m.
January and February 2014 board meeting dates were set for Monday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 24 at 5:00 p.m.