Staff writer
Goessel school district taxpayers could see a 6.6 mill decrease in their tax rates, according to a budget proposed Monday by the USD 411 school board.
Superintendent John Fast said the decrease could equate to a $45 savings on a $75,000 home.
An increase in state funding was ordered after a state Supreme Court ruling found the Legislature violated the state constitution when it reduced state aid for poor districts.
The ruling restores $172,000 in state aid that was lost four years ago and the money is earmarked for tax relief.
“There is no new money,” Fast said. “Our budget overall remains the same, since that is tied to our enrollment. What changes is who is paying for our budget.”
“It really is a celebration for our district,” Fast said. “In essence, our patrons receive $3.2 million of improvements in our district with a bond project while also receiving a decrease in their taxes.”
District improvements include west annex addition, a tornado shelter, and a new high school entryway.
USD 411 also has increased its local option budget to 30 percent to maximize state aid the district can receive.
Construction progress
Delays in window delivery have put construction about three weeks behind schedule, Fast said.
Although steel, masonry, and concrete work on the west annex, tornado shelter and high school front entrance are on schedule, the delay has caused other subcontractors to run behind schedule.
“A lot of the interior work cannot start until the high efficiency windows are installed,” Fast said.
In other business:
- The board elected the following board members into these positions: Dan Miller, president; James Wiens, vice president; Kelley Booton, Marion County Special Education Cooperative; Kyle Funk, back up to MCSEC; Lynette Duerksen and Maynard Knepp, board representatives for Meet and Confer; Darla Meysing TLC; and Peggy Jay, board treasurer.
- Van driver Marc Knowles resigned and Roger Kingsley was hired to replace him.
- The board approved the purchase of 49 Chromebooks from Twotrees Technologies, LLC at a cost of $17,248 for seventh and eighth grades. Fast said additional Chromebooks will be purchased for sixth grade students in early fall.
- Board members approved an adjustment in credit hours to allow a high school student to graduate.
The next board meeting will be August 11 beginning with a budget hearing at 6:45 p.m.