District’s mill rate raised by 16 cents
By Jane Myhra
The Iola-Scandinavia School Board gave final approval to a $4.083 million tax levy at a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 19.
The local tax levy was generated from a general fund levy of $3.446 million, debt service levy of $585,000 and community service levy of $52,000.
The 2015-16 local tax levy is an increase of 0.27 percent, or $10,986, over the 2014-15 levy.
According to District Administrator David Dyb, these numbers were very close to the figures presented during the August annual meeting.
State law allows local school boards to make adjustments from the approvals granted at the annual meeting once certified state aid and property valuation amounts are released in October.
The drop in property valuations in the school district will be reflected in a mill rate increase from $10.17 to $10.33 per $1,000 of equalized value.
To match the certified state information and maintain a balanced budget, the I-S School Board approved budget adjustments to reflect changes since the annual meeting. The school district’s balanced budget means expenditures match the given revenue authority determined by state imposed revenue limits.
In other school business, the board approved revisions to the high school graduation policy, second semester youth options course applications and the hiring of an additional special education transportation route in accordance with individual education plan requirements.