School board recognizes student’s achievement
By Holly Neumann
The Manawa School Board voted against raising the district’s Fund 80 tax levy at a Feb. 18 meeting.
People attending the meeting suggested raising Fund 80 as a means to pay for a school liaison officer, adopting the county’s senior nutrition site and meals on wheels, and providing a mental health program in the schools.
Board President Joanne Johnson asked if this is something that they should pursue.
“It would definitely be an increase to property taxes,” said Johnson.
School districts use Fund 80 to pay for community services that benefit residents living within the district.
Fund 80 revenues cannot be used for regular instruction for students and are outside the district’s revenue limits.
Manawa uses Fund 80 revenues to pay for the operation of middle school sports and the Senior Tax Exchange Program (STEP). The STEP program is a program to help seniors in our district earn funds to help pay their property taxes by volunteering time in the schools in various programs.
The Manawa School Board has historically levied $40,000 in revenues for Fund 80.
“I think Fund 80 would require us to ask constituents to pay up again,” board member Helene Pohl said. “It would increase the property tax when we just went to referendum. I can’t imagine how popular we would be if we go to them again and say we need to increase Fund 80, particularly at this point when we haven’t even established priorities.”
Pohl said the board’s role is to establish the priorities and free the administration from looking at so many options.
“We are examining how best to serve our population,” she said.
A motion was made by Pohl to leave Fund 80 as is at this time. The motion passed unanimously.
In other business, Olivia Balthazor was recognized by the board for earning the North Central Vice President Award at the Regional Youth Art Month Art Show.