|
|
School board will ask again for money to keep afloatBy Barbara Brown The district has been fighting the tide of recent budget problems, but has found itself unable to function without dramatic cuts. Thirty-seven district teachers lost their positions in May when the board approved a round of cuts totaling $1.7 million. Voters will be asked once more to voluntarily put up taxes based on property value for five years or the board could be forced to cut more than $2 million from the 2004-2005 school budgets and possibly more from future budgets. The board will ask for what will total $550 per pupil unit from a combination of property taxes and state contribution. The state will pay more toward a levy this year than it would have last year, should one be approved by North Branch district voters. For example, on a funding request of $500 per pupil unit, an owner of a $150,000 house in the district would pay about $164 more in taxes in 2004, but only $143 more over 2003 in 2005. If the levy had been approved last November, the tax payer would have seen a $227 increase in taxes the first year. The board also approved a second question for the Nov. 4 vote that would ask for an additional $125 per pupil unit, which would allow the board to give back some, but not all, of the previous cuts. ©ECM Post Review |