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Highlands Today

Higher School Tax Rate Proposed

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: July 31, 2008

SEBRING - The Highlands County School Board tentatively approved its 2008-09 budget with a small increase in the school tax rate.

The board approved a tentative budget Tuesday of $173,228,694, which is about $22 million less than the 2007-08 budget. The decrease is because the district spent some of the $56 million it borrowed for school construction and a decrease in the general fund.

The school board approved the tentative tax rate at 7.687 mils, which is .023 mils higher than the 2007-08 millage of 7.664.

The tax rate can be lowered but not raised at the final budget hearing, which is scheduled for 5:05 p.m., Sept. 9.

Despite the slight increase in the tax rate, due to a reduction in the assessed property values, the local tax revenue will decrease $1.49 million from $52.69 million in 2007-08 to $51.20 million in 2008-09.

The board will continue to hold workshops and consider changes before the final budget is adopted, Superintendent Wally Cox said. There are several areas to discuss including debt service, utilities, personnel numbers and the capital outlay final budget.
School Board Member Wally Randall noted that the school district is doing more this school year, including the Career Academy and the pre-International Baccalaureate program, with less per-student funding.

The base per-student funding, which is set by the state, decreased 4.61 percent from $4,163.47 in 2007-08 to 3,971.74 in 2008-09.

A person's school tax bill will increase slightly if his assessed property valuation remained the same.

With no change in assessed valuation, a property with an assessed valuation of $200,000 and a $25,000 Homestead Exemption would have an annual school tax increase of $4.03. The school tax bill for 2008-09, based on the tentative millage, would be $1,345.23 on that property.

The tentative budget is based on a decrease of 33.5 school-level teaching positions and a decrease of about 30 support workers.

Salaries represent 65 percent of the district's general fund expenses. Benefits represent 19 percent of the general fund expenses.

The remainder of the general fund expenses are as follows: purchased services (6 percent), utilities and energy (5 percent), supplies and materials (3.5 percent), equipment (.5 percent) and other (1 percent).

SCHOOL TAX RATE

• The school board approved the tentative tax rate at 7.687 mils for 2008-09, .023 mils higher than the 2007-08 millage (which was 7.664).

• More areas to discuss include: debt service, utilities and personnel numbers.

Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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