School taxes are projected to rise 2 percent for residents in the Suring School District, based on the tax levy approved Aug. 19 at the district’s annual meeting.
The estimated tax rate of $7.31 per $1,000 of assessed value is up from the 2012-13 rate of $7.17, meaning those with properties valued at $100,000 will pay $731 in school taxes, an increase of $14 over last year.
In October, the state Department of Revenue will certify the 2013 School District equalized valuation, and the final rate will be determined. School administrators proposed a tax rate based on equalized value remaining steady; any changes in the equalized value will affect taxes.
About a dozen residents at the annual meeting approved a tax levy of $4,161,479 for operation and maintenance and $304,400 for debt service.
Residents reviewed the $6.4 million budget, down from $7.11 million a year ago. School Superintendent Robert Ray attributed the change to a $900,000 roofing project undertaken last year with the aid of referendum funding.
The 2013-14 budget was prepared with a $300,000 deficit, but the district expects to earn an estimated $170,000 in forestry income to offset that somewhat.
State aid, which provides about 5 percent of the district’s revenue, is down about $50,000 to $269,000 for the coming school year.
“We received 15 percent less than last year. It’s part of the formula because of declining enrollment,” Ray said. The budget was established based on a drop of 14 students, but final numbers are uncertain.
“We’ve had a lot of new kids come in the last few days, so we won’t know until the third Friday of September,” Ray said. On Sept. 20, the district will take its official student count, and this total will be used to calculate aid. The school has an enrollment of about 400 students.
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