It was only an advisory vote, and there were not many in attendance, but the Franklin School Board received an interesting answer from the general public Wednesday when it asked their opinion on this year's proposed budget and tax levy.
District residents, including the seven board members, voted 10-10 on the budget and the accompanying property tax levy, which calls for an estimated 3.9 percent increase over last year.
While officials outlined nearly $1.2 million in cuts it made for the 2010-11 budget, the levy increase was too much for some residents, who said the community cannot afford any more taxes in midst of an economic recession.
"I just ask you people tonight to go back and take a real, hard look at this budget to see if you really squeezed it as hard as you can," resident Donald Reed told the School Board. "Give the people of this community an opportunity to really accept the fact this budget was looked at as hard as you can look at it.
"You are running a business with our dollars and we are concerned about how you are spending them."
Administrators estimated the tax rate would be $11.77 per $1,000 of assessed property value, compared to $11.32 a year ago. That means a person owning a $200,000 home would pay $2,354 in school property taxes.
The School Board will formally adopt a tax levy and budget in October. The district is still waiting on several factors, including enrollment, a finalized state aid number and the assessed value of the city, which impact the budget.
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Some people may smirk at the 3.9% increase but put it on top of the increase we saw last year, the year before and it is nothing to laugh about. Especially with so many people out of jobs, living on fixed incomes or in jobs that barely make ends meet!
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Back to topFranklin Taxpayer - Aug 28, 2010 8:21 PM - Report Abuse
The days of "it's for the kids" are over, time for the kids to tighten their belts too!