Marion Independent school board keeps property tax levy steady

MARION - The Marion Independent school board this week certified a $38.6 million budget for 2015-2016 that keeps the district's property tax rate essentially the same as this year.

Property tax rate was set at $18.42 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, up half a cent from this year. Action was taken following a public hearing at which no public comments were entered.

The budget includes $553,091 to recover special education costs exceeding revenues and $466,084 in additional revenue to offset increased enrollment.

Marion business manager John Donner told board members the budget was based on a 2 percent increase in new money. That figure most likely will have to be adjusted when legislators reach agreement on K-12 funding for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

Even with the levy rate remaining the same, residential taxpayers will likely pay more because the state has increased the amount of that class of property subject to tax from 54.4 to 55.7 percent of the assessed value.

Commercial and industrial property owners, on the other hand, should pay less because the amount of their property subject to tax is dropping from 95 percent to 90 percent.

Also at Monday's meeting, board members:

' Approved two calendars for the 2015-2016 school year to cover both proposed legislation and current state law, which is being enforced more strictly for 2015-2016.

One would begin classes on Aug. 25 and end them on May 27. The other would start classes on Aug. 31 and end them on June 2.

' Were told by Marion Board President David Law that Ray & Associates, the Cedar Rapids firm hired by the district to search for a new superintendent, received 46 completed applications for the position by last Friday's deadline. Ray & Associates representatives are scheduled to meet with constituent focus groups and board members on April 10 to finalize interview questions and procedures for the rest of the search.