Public hearing set Monday on Cedar Rapids school district budget

The Cedar Rapids school board will have a public hearing regarding the 2012-13 school year budget Monday.

The proposed fiscal year 2013 budget includes total budgeted revenues of $242.8 million and total budgeted expenses of $252.2 million, but these numbers are preliminary. School administrators stress that the numbers will change when the district's detailed line item budget is completed in May and June.

The proposed tax levy rate of $15.16037 per $1,000 of assessed valuation is virtually unchanged from the current levy rate of $15.16034.

Iowa school districts are required to have next school year's budgets certified by April 15.

Board members will certify the budget at Monday's school board meeting. They also will vote to amend the 2011-12 school year budget to permit the spending of miscellaneous income received throughout the year.

If such income does not materialize this year, the district's legal spending will automatically reduce.

There will be a public hearing regarding the budget amendment. No additional taxes will be levied as a result of this amendment.

Also on the agenda is an overview of the transition activities and support for students, families, and staff affected by the boundary adjustments and school closures for the 2012-2013 school year.

Board members voted last month to close Monroe Early Childhood Center and Polk Elementary School at the end of the current school year, and approved several boundary adjustments.

Monday's public hearings and school board meeting will be held in the board room at the Educational Learning and Leadership Center, 2500 Edgewood Road NW, beginning at 5 p.m.