College Community to approve 2011-2012 budget

The College Community school board will vote on its $74 million budget for the 2011-2012 school year Monday, April 11, 2012, following a public hearing.

The budget assumes that the state will set allowable growth, the amount which schools are allowed to increase what they spend, at zero. Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature have not yet agreed on whether to set the allowable growth at zero or two percent, but the rate will be set at zero regardless if they do not agree.

School officials expressed some frustration at the board's March 21 meeting with the Legislature's inability to reach a compromise.

“It's the first time I think in 35 years allowable growth has not been set going in to budget time,” said Jim Rotter, business services director for the district.

Despite the lack of growth, College Community's tax rate is decreasing from $17.20 to $16.57 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. Actual taxes paid will only go down slightly due to a rise in the portion of a property's value that the district can tax. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $804 in College Community property taxes next year, compared with $807 this year.

Following the hearing, board members will review summer construction and renovation at the district, set rates for its early childhood program for next year and conduct a closed negotiations strategy session.

The evening will begin with a work session starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by the budget public hearing at 7:30 p.m. The board's regular meeting will begin as soon as the hearing is concluded.