Luxemburg-Casco district voters back $5.7 million tax levy Tax rate would remain at $8.30 with current budget assumptions By Kevin Boneske News-Chronicle When including the school board and administrators, about two dozen Luxemburg-Casco School District residents were on hand Monday night in the high school auditorium to vote on the 2004-05 tax levy. On a voice vote, district voters at L-C's annual meeting, which lasted about 20 minutes, backed a $5,701,966 tax levy. In addition to $5,281,213 budgeted for the general fund levy, scheduled debt service payment and community service fund, the total levy includes another $420,753 to defease debt on the K-2 building project. The district in recent years has elected to pay off some debt early in order to save interest costs on bonds with its debt service schedule. Business manager Janice DeMeuse said the net interest savings due to defeasance has totaled more than $1.1 million. While the total tax levy would increase almost $330,000 from the previous school year, which came to $5,373,224, based upon unaudited figures, DeMeuse said the 2004-05 budget is projected to keep the district's property tax rate at $8.30 per $1,000. She reported the rate would remain constant under the following assumptions: - L-C's enrollment for 2004-05 will remain stable from the previous school year. - The district will be able to receive about $241.01 more per full-time student, based upon state Department of Public Instruction information. And because the state increased the "low spending district" level to $7,800 per student, L-C is now eligible for additional funding through the revenue cap of $121.24 per student. The projected revenue cap limit in 2004-05 would increase by about 6 percent to $15,233,400. - L-C's state equalization aid for 2004-05 will increase by 0.96 percent, or $101,649, to $10,661,695. - The equalized value of the L-C district will increase by about 6 percent, or $38,885,876, to $686,983,808. - The funding percentage level for state categorical handicapped aid will decrease from 30 percent to 29 percent. The total estimated budget for 2004-05 includes $15,840,200 in revenues and expenditures. DeMeuse said 2.5 additional staffing positions - a full-time high school guidance counselor, a full-time kindergarten teacher and another half-time teaching slot for eighth grade - are included in the budget. While district voters "approved" a tax levy Monday night, the board is slated to give final approval to the budget in October after the state releases official figures on the district's state aid and equalized value. Board members in 2004-05 will receive the same compensation for their respective positions as they did the previous school year. On a voice vote, voters at the annual meeting backed a $2,250 annual salary for the board president, treasurer and clerk and $2,150 for the other board members. The board salaries were last increased by $100 each for 2003-04. The board also: - Decided to use a different gas station for the district's transportation fuel in 2004-05. Based on projected costs, the board accepted the bid of Simonar Shell, which, according to the bid summary, submitted the lowest bid. Simonar edged out Fran Kahr, who previously had been awarded its bid for Mobil. The fuel use estimate placed Shell's total bid price at $113,692.27, compared to $113,884.26 for Mobil. Skeeter's in Casco submitted a bid for its Citgo station, but its total bid came to $114,464.67 when factoring in $1,141.81 for "extra diesel," which referred to the projected number of extra gallons that would be required for buses housed in Luxemburg to travel round trip to Casco to fuel. - Approved a 66:30 agreement for special education cooperative services with Algoma for 2004-05. District Administrator Patrick Saunders said L-C's budget includes $256,023 for that special education program. - Accepted a wellness grant of $1,385 from the Wisconsin Education Association Trust. The grant money, which L-C teacher David Mayer applied for with Saunders, is to used used for staff wellness activities.