SAUK VILLAGE | Consolidated School District 168 will request a property tax levy of $4.43 million for the 2013 year, which is a 6.675 percent increase from last year’s levy.
Business Manager Sharlyne Williams explained to the board there are three main reasons for requesting an increase.
“The Estimated Appraised Value (EAV) of a home in our district decreased by over $3,000,” Williams said. “That means the average home will pay less taxes because the home is worth less.”
The 2012-13 budget has a $2.8 million deficit, Williams told the board, and revenue is needed to help fill that gap.
“We also lose $8 million in expired TIF resources,” Williams said. The district received a tax credit because of the TIF district, which is higher than the Estimated Appraised Value of the property. “That hurts the district because of the tie to the lower EAV."
Williams also said that just because the district requests a 6.675 percent increase does not mean that it will be allowed.
“The county will decide how much revenue to send to the district,” Williams said. “Our job is to state our case on how much we need and why.”
The board will officially approve the levy and send it to the county at December’s board meeting.
In other school news, MuzicNet Inc. made a presentation to the board, offering to bring band music classes to district schools.
Aaron Franklin told the board the company can provide music lessons in group or individual format, and also can provide musical instruments to rent.
The district can pay for the program, or parents can be charged to enroll their children.
Superintendent Al Travaglini said he would reach out to district businesses, as well as companies that the district does business with, and seek donations to help bring in a music program.
Franklin donated the first 10 musical instruments to the district, and members of the audience pledged donations amounting to $1,000.
The Rickover In-School Reassignment program was labeled a success after a presentation by Assistant Principal Steve Chambers.
Chambers told the board that suspensions at Rickover are down by more than 50 percent this year. Only 10 percent of the students who participate in the In-School Reassignment program end up back in it a second time.
The students who participate in the program do regular school work in the school instead of being suspended.
The program will be expanded to Strasburg after the semester break, Travaglini told the board.
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