School district’s best guess is a 3.9 percent levy hike

The Franklin School Board has recommended a 3.9 percent hike in the tax levy for the 2008-09 school year.

The proposed $29.6 million tax levy, $1.1 million higher than in last year’s final school budget, would translate into an increase of 29 cents — from $10.89 to $11.18 — per $1,000 of equalized value. That means the owner of a $200,000 home would pay an additional $58 in school taxes.

Ongoing adjustments

School Board Vice President James Ward said this year’s proposed budget is a work in progress.

“We can make adjustments later on once we understand what various (state Department of Public Instruction) fundings will be. But we do have to have an initial budget in place as a starting point,” Ward said.

The biggest unknown is how much aid the district will get from the state, he said. The figure is based on a number of factors, including anticipated enrollment, which is not reported to the DPI until late September.

School District Business Services Director James Milzer said it’s unlikely the district’s budget picture will change much before the annual budget hearing in late August. The state has an Oct. 15 deadline to inform districts of aid allocations.

“That’s when we can more accurately predict what’s going to happen,” Milzer said.

Shortfall averted

Milzer said a projected $525,000 shortfall was erased this spring by cutting the equivalent of 6.2 teaching positions — spread throughout the school district — for next school year. As a result, some classes will likely be larger while staying below the district’s maximum.

Milzer said between now and the start of the school year, the district should not have to tap into the district’s fund balance to cover a shortfall.

Last summer, district residents, in an advisory capacity, approved a 5.6 percent tax levy increase in the 2007-08 budget.

John Neville can be reached at (262) 446-6609.