Hearing tonight on Cedar Rapids school budget

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids school board will have a public hearing tonight to approve the 2011-12 school year budget.

The proposed budget includes total budgeted revenues of $254.2 million and total budgeted expenses of $261.9 million.

Executive Director of Business Services Steve Graham has stressed that these numbers are preliminary and will change when the district's detailed line item budget is completed in May and June.

The proposed budget includes a levy rate of $15.164. This rate assumes zero percent allowable growth.

Graham has told board members that if the state legislature enacts a growth rate of something higher than zero percent, the levy rate will be changed to benefit taxpayers. For instance, one percent allowable growth would result in a levy rate of $14.979, while two percent allowable growth would mean a $14.860 levy rate.

The proposed rate is slightly lower than the district's current rate of $15.170.

The proposed budget includes no increases in student fees. All student fees, including registration, driver's education, and instrument rentals, will remain unchanged next school year.

School board members also review the process of disposing district property damaged in the 2008 flood, including the former administrative building. Scott Olson, a registered architect and commercial real estate broker with Skogman Realty, will provide an overview of the process and answer questions.

Tonight's meeting begins with the public hearing at 5 p.m. The meeting will be held in the boardroom, room 305, at the Educational Service Center @ Kingston.