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Warsaw school tax levy will increase; roof replacement bids to be let
By Diane Vance/Gate City Staff Writer
WARSAW, Ill. - Warsaw School District's tax levy will increase by 6.1 percent, from $3.97 to $4.02 per $100 assessed valuation for taxes collected in 2009 for 2008.
Superintendent Kim Schilson estimates the district's valuation could increase up to 5 percent.
“It may not increase,” she told school board members Wednesday. “In that case, we'll collect less money. But the district needs to ask for the levy increase or we can't get it.
“With the economic downturn, we've lost money in funds invested in the stock market. School districts are obligated to make that up. Our tort fund levy will increase, our insurance costs have increased.
“Some school funds are at a fixed dollar amount, such as the education fund. It stays at $1.84 (per $100 evaluation). We cannot increase that without voter approval.”
The education fund pays for staff salaries and educational supplies. Tort funds cover legal and risk management expenses.
No citizens attended the public tax levy hearing held prior to the regular school board meeting Wednesday.
Schilson said the state has sent general state aid payments but has not sent transportation or special education disbursements.
“We're behind about $100,000 right now,” she said. “The December quarterly payments will be due soon, so that amount will increase.”
Warsaw has not had to borrow any money to cover the state budget's shortfall.
“Educators are talking there could be an 8 percent cut in school funding across the board,” said Schilson. “The new Legislature in January is expected to decide. We'll continue to receive general state aid. An 8 percent cut means about $320,000 less annually for us.
“I had a meeting with the teachers recently to explain the cutbacks and asked them to watch their budgets. We won't be purchasing any extra supplies. If later in the year we find there is not a cut, we can loosen up a little.”
In other business the board:
Approved Archtechnics letting bids to replace and repair the 1957 building roof.
Approved loaning Warsaw High School's wrestling mats to Hamilton High School for a wrestling tournament the first weekend in January.
Approved changing the monthly school board meetings from Thursday to Wednesday in 2009. All meetings are held in the high school library. Board member Nick Capaldo voted no. He has a conflict meeting on Wednesdays. He acknowledged that if the majority of the board agreed to meet Wednesdays, he could work it out.
Don Roskamp, Tonya Thurman, Deb Beeler, Steve Lucie and Todd Hardy voted yes to change the meetings to Wednesdays, citing Thursday conflicts with sports activities. Don Savage was absent.
From November through March, the regular meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. From April through October, meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
Meetings are on the fourth Wednesday of the month February through July and in September, 2009.
Meetings will be on the third Wednesday of the month in January, August, October, November and December, 2009.
n Adopted the 2008-2010 high school improvement plan, the 2008-2010 elementary school improvement plan and amended the 2008-2010 district improvement plan.
Superintendent Kim Schilson estimates the district's valuation could increase up to 5 percent.
“It may not increase,” she told school board members Wednesday. “In that case, we'll collect less money. But the district needs to ask for the levy increase or we can't get it.
“With the economic downturn, we've lost money in funds invested in the stock market. School districts are obligated to make that up. Our tort fund levy will increase, our insurance costs have increased.
“Some school funds are at a fixed dollar amount, such as the education fund. It stays at $1.84 (per $100 evaluation). We cannot increase that without voter approval.”
The education fund pays for staff salaries and educational supplies. Tort funds cover legal and risk management expenses.
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Schilson said the state has sent general state aid payments but has not sent transportation or special education disbursements.
“We're behind about $100,000 right now,” she said. “The December quarterly payments will be due soon, so that amount will increase.”
Warsaw has not had to borrow any money to cover the state budget's shortfall.
“Educators are talking there could be an 8 percent cut in school funding across the board,” said Schilson. “The new Legislature in January is expected to decide. We'll continue to receive general state aid. An 8 percent cut means about $320,000 less annually for us.
“I had a meeting with the teachers recently to explain the cutbacks and asked them to watch their budgets. We won't be purchasing any extra supplies. If later in the year we find there is not a cut, we can loosen up a little.”
In other business the board:
Approved Archtechnics letting bids to replace and repair the 1957 building roof.
Approved loaning Warsaw High School's wrestling mats to Hamilton High School for a wrestling tournament the first weekend in January.
Approved changing the monthly school board meetings from Thursday to Wednesday in 2009. All meetings are held in the high school library. Board member Nick Capaldo voted no. He has a conflict meeting on Wednesdays. He acknowledged that if the majority of the board agreed to meet Wednesdays, he could work it out.
Don Roskamp, Tonya Thurman, Deb Beeler, Steve Lucie and Todd Hardy voted yes to change the meetings to Wednesdays, citing Thursday conflicts with sports activities. Don Savage was absent.
From November through March, the regular meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. From April through October, meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
Meetings are on the fourth Wednesday of the month February through July and in September, 2009.
Meetings will be on the third Wednesday of the month in January, August, October, November and December, 2009.
n Adopted the 2008-2010 high school improvement plan, the 2008-2010 elementary school improvement plan and amended the 2008-2010 district improvement plan.
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