School Board, community members back 8.56 percent tax-levy increase

Sheboygan Falls School Board members and city residents approved a projected $7,731,811 total tax levy, during the district’s annual public meeting Monday, July 27, in the Sheboygan Falls High School cafeteria.

Director of Business Services Mary Blaha appeared before the School Board and community members in attendance to present the preliminary 2009-10 budget report.

Due to an estimated reduction in state equalized aid, the district’s anticipated 2009-10 net tax levy of $7,731,8111 represents an 8.56 percent increase in comparison to the 2008-09 total tax levy of $7,122,105.

Based on the district’s estimated tax levy and stagnant level of equalized valuation, Blaha projected the district’s mill rate to be $8.84 per thousand in 2009-10.

Blaha said the district is estimated to receive $10,204,049 in state equalized aid for the 2009-10 school year, which represents a reduction of $72,538 when compared to the $10,276,587 in state aid the district received in 2008-09.

She stressed the actual amount of state aid the district will receive for 2009-10 will not be finalized until October.

“The numbers we have right now are projections,” Blaha said. “The amount of state aid we actually receive could be more or less than the estimated figure.

“Much of it depends on the student-enrollment figure that we submit to the state on the third Friday in September,” she said.

In addition to approving the projected tax levy for the 2009-10 school year, the board also heard from SFHS cheerleading coach Sue Witt and cheerleading team member Stephanie Peterson, regarding the possible elimination of the high-school cheerleading program.

After speaking about the merits of the cheerleading program within the school district and throughout the community, Peterson submitted a petition signed by cheerleading supporters, urging the School Board to retain the program.

A complete report on the regular School Board meeting, budget and annual public meeting will appear in next week’s Sheboygan Falls News.