Central sets new tax levy for fiscal year 2004

The tax levy for the fiscal year 2004 was the big topic of discussion Monday night at the Central School Board meeting. Earlier in the evening the district held a tax levy hearing. The Central School Board followed up to set the 2004 tax levy at $4.05 during the school board meeting.

“We have to set a levy every year to generate funds to operate the school,” said Central Superintendent Dr. David Stevens. “The levy fluctuates from year to year.

“We have a maximum levy that the board of education, without a vote of the people, can levy. This year that maximum amount is $4.43. This year we set a levy of $4.05. Last year the levy was $3.95. So in essence we have added 10 cents to our operating levy. Our debt service, which we basically use money generated from to pay off our bonds, did not increase. We actually decreased that levy by 10 cents,” Stevens said.

Even though 10 cents was added to the 2004 tax levy, the action taken by the Central Board of Education Monday evening had nothing to do with the “No tax increase bond issue.”

“I don’t want people to get confused,” commented Stevens. “We passed a no tax increase bond issue and we did not increase the taxes. The action the board took tonight had nothing to do with our bond issue what so ever. It actually has to do with the operation of the school.

“Simply, the 10 cent increase was necessary because we are losing $1.2 million this year because of state budget cuts and we are projecting as high as $2 million next year,” he continued. “We are hopeful that something happens that basically we don’t lose any money next year. When we have our hearing next year and we set our levy, we are hopeful that we can drop our levy back. We have done that in past years. Our levy in 1996 was $4.24. We’re 19 cents below what we levied in 1996.”

In other matters the board recognized several student accomplishments including the high school cheerleaders, participants of Boys State and Girls State, participants in the Missouri Scholarship Academy, participants in the Missouri Leadership Institute of William Woods College, and participants in the Performing Arts Institute at Southwest Missouri State University.

The board also recognized Farmington Sports and Rehabilitation Center for assisting Central students with physicals. The Central Transportation Department was also recognized for 100 percent passage of state inspections.

Central Athletic Director announced to the board that the high school would be hosting a “Meet the Teams Night” for fall teams at the high school football field on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.

Stevens reported to the board that the Central School District currently has an enrollment of 1,865. That number is up 50 students from last year.