School District Tax Rate Mill Levy Dipping Slightly

The Kimball School Board on Monday held its once a year hearing on the school district’s 2022-23 budget of expenses and the once a year hearing on the property tax levy for 2022-23, as well as its regular monthly meeting.

During the budget hearing, Superintendent Trevor Anderson gave a short presentation on the budget.

No one had comments or questions during the public hearings.

He explained that there was a 2.7% increase in valuations, therefore the property tax rate mill levy that was previously 1.05 will be decreased to 1.04. The board set the final tax request, which was less due to an increase in valuation request.

In addition, Anderson stated that state aid is very similar to previous years and will be $51,679 for the 2022-23 year.

An expenditure chart was included in the presentation. Anderson reported that the bulk of expenditures go to instructional salaries.

During the regular board meeting, Jacob Hurla from Community Building Solution updated the board on the renovation projects. Hurla said that the equipment, including the large HVAC rooftop units, has shipped and should be arriving this week. He said a crane has been scheduled for next Monday and he is hopeful that the work will be completed very soon. Some of the other equipment for Mary Lynch has been delayed slightly again.

Elyse Schlake-Lukassen shared with the board about a meeting for childcare facilities. Kimball County Communities for Kids will host the meeting on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sagebrush. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting, which will address the economic impacts surrounding childcare.

The superintendent’s financial update reported that for the final month of the budget season for 2021-22, 80.55% of the budget has been spent with 100% of fiscal year completed. So there is 19.45% of the budget unspent.

Actual expenditures year-to-date are $8,982,882.79 with current cash in the General Fund of $2,011,535.39.

Mary Lynch Principals Amanda Culek’s report stated that enrollment for Mary Lynch Elementary School is 226 students. Testing was completed and the data is being reviewed. Schedule changes have included the addition of library classes, 4th-6th grades being departmentalized and the Life Skills Rubric including responsibility, respect, citizenship, work ethic and organization.

Meanwhile, at the Jr./Sr high, the enrollment is 169 with 12 students currently registered for dual credit courses through WNCC, according to the principal Danielle Reader. Guest speakers have been scheduled for the ninth period on Wednesdays for the sophomores careers class.

Reader stated: “We have had one incident so far in which we implemented restorative practices rather than suspension and have one more coming up this week.”

Action items included adoption of the 2022-23 budget and approval of the tax request resolution.

Although the ALICAP Insurance Policy was approved, the 15% increase in the premium was concerning and difficult to sustain.

Finally, the next regular meeting for the Kimball School Board will be Monday, Oct. 10, at the Kimball County Transit Building.

The State Education Conference is scheduled for Nov. 16-18 in Omaha.