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District approves tax increase for 2015-16
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: August 20, 2015

Blaming it on the state, the Valley Center school board on Aug. 17 reluctantly approved a property tax increase to support the school district's 2015-16 operating budget.

In a 7-0 vote, the board blessed a $34.5 million budget that is supported by a property tax mill levy of 62.304 mills, up from 59.894 mills in 2014-15.

District officials said the 2.41-mill increase was the result of a decrease in state aid, forcing local taxes to make up the difference.

"Nobody wants to see a tax increase," said Superintendent Cory Gibson.

With the increase, the owner of a $150,000 home in the school district will pay about $43 more in taxes next year.

The additional property tax will bring in about $295,000, based on assessed property valuation, which increased by about 2 percent. The funds will go toward general operations.

Gibson said the district has spent down reserves and fund balances over the years.

The budget includes one additional elementary teacher and pay raises for all teachers, administrators and staff.

State funding for 2015-16 is based on 20014-15 expenses, thanks to a new block grant system Kansas lawmakers approved earlier this year. The system freezes funding for the next two years.

During the Aug. 17 public hearing on the budget, one resident spoke to the school board.

"I came on behalf of a lot of people," said Judy Leftoff, a former Valley Center City Council member.

Leftoff said homeowners she talked to can't afford an increase in property taxes. She said the district should cut back on expenses. She suggested selling the adult education building on South Meridian and house the program in unused space at the middle school. She said it appears the district isn't hurting for money, especially with its "modern" buildings and sprinkler systems.

She said residents are already facing increases in utility expenses.

"Do you not hear it?" she asked the board. "Do you not look around and see how many people cannot afford it?"

Board President Brad Barbour said the state has placed more of the funding burden on local school districts.

"We're not happy," he said after the vote.

Valley Center is seeking additional revenue through the state's emergency fund, which was set up as part of the block grant system this year. It is designed to give additional funds to districts that are facing increasing enrollments or declining property valuation.

Valley Center's valuation increased slightly, but its enrollment is projected to jump by 68 students.

Gibson said the district is asking for about $271,000 in additional revenue. The district should know early next week whether it will receive the funds.

Under the state's original funding formula, the additional 68 students would have brought in about $350,000, Gibson said.

In other business Aug. 17, the board:

•Accepted gifts of back-to-school supplies from Pathway and Faith churches.

•Approved the disposal of 20 student desks and two teacher desks from the intermediate school.

•Heard an update on two parts of the district's strategic plan.

•Gave final approval to policy updates.

•Accepted supplemental contract resignations from Jeremy LeDuc (high school wrestling assistant coach, Aug. 7) and Jordan Foland (high school baseball assistant coach, Aug. 11).

•Approved supplemental contracts for Matthew Coleman (high school boys' soccer assistant coach, $2,722, Aug. 17), Nancy Roth (Wheatland School Improvement Team/Building Improvement Team, $1,361, Aug. 13), Shannon Lutz (Wheatland SIT/BIT, $1,361, Aug. 13), Abby Norton (Wheatland SIT/BIT, $1,361, Aug. 13), Jordan Trego (Wheatland SIT/BIT, $1,361, Aug. 13), Brandi Peach (Wheatland SIT/BIT, $1,361, Aug. 13), Judy Phillips (Wheatland SIT/BIT, $1,361, Aug. 13), Dave Stockton (Wheatland SIT/BIT, $1,361, Aug. 13) and Mercedes Spears (high school sophomore class sponsor, $972, Aug. 13).

•Approved the hiring of Mary (Alyson) Wilson (library aide at West, $12.60 per hour, Aug. 13), Eric O'Rear (lunch aide at Abilene, $8.80 per hour, Aug. 13), Sherri Patterson (at-risk aide at Abilene, $9 per hour, Aug. 13), Barbara Johnson (cook at the high school, $8.80 per hour, Aug. 24) and Ashley Hobart (part-time administrative assistant at the middle school, $11.05 per hour, Aug. 13).

•Accepted resignations from Anita Hudson (cook at the high school, July 30), Linda Ruckle (cook at the middle school, Aug. 10), Karren Vaughn (kitchen manager at the high school, Aug. 11), Andrera Gonzalez (bus aide, Aug. 13), Jeremy Kennedy (bus aide, Aug. 13), Marcia Burke (bus aide, will be a Sedgwick County Co-op employee after Sept. 1), Cindy Large (bus aide, will be a Sedgwick County Co-op employee after Sept. 1), Polly Shortt (bus aide, will be a Sedgwick County Co-op employee after Sept. 1) and Christina Tucker (bus aide, will be a Sedgwick County Co-op employee after Sept. 1)

•Accepted transfers for Sondra Leatherman (from four-hour cook at Abilene to two-hour cook at Wheatland, Aug. 12), Tamra Burt (from two-hour cook at Wheatland to 2.75-hour cook at Wheatland, Aug. 12), Sherri Patterson (from library aide at Wheatland to Title I aide at the intermediate school, Aug. 12), William Frye (from three-hour food service at the high school to five-hour food service at Abilene and the intermediate school, Aug. 12), Betty Clausel (from at-risk aide at Wheatland to library aide at Wheatland, Aug. 13), Janet Normandin (from 3.5-hour at-risk aide at Wheatland to seven-hour at-risk aide at Wheatland, Aug. 14) and Nora Hawkins (from cook at the intermediate school to cook at the middle school, Aug. 12.





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