The Carbondale Elementary School District #95 Board of Education recently held a meeting in which members discussed some matters relating to personnel, students and performance, as well as budget issues.
Prior to the regular meeting, the board held a closed executive session for the purpose of discussing the evaluation, performance, and payment of specific matters relating to personnel, student discipline, pending litigation, and collective bargaining.
After that, the board held a public hearing on the FY 2015 tax levy. Assistant Superintendent Justin Miller told the board that the district received $11,725,463 as an extension in 2014. For the levy in 2015, the district requested $12,311,105, which is a 4.99 percent rise over the prior year's extension request.
Miller also explained that the tax levy has four main components. The equalized assessed valuation (EAV), which amounts to $335,140,272, of the city; the previous year's extension; the consumer price index, which now stands at 0.8 percent; and newly added property during the tax year estimated at $6 million. To fully benefit from the new property, the district asked for a higher tax levy.
There are several different kinds of EAV, including commercial (new construction and businesses) and residential (homes). As the EAV for the local community declines, the tax rate for the school will increase; if the EAV for the local community increases, the tax rate will decline.
The members then discussed how to continue reducing expenses to stay within the school budget. The also voted to approve the tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year.
The board also ratified a three-year agreement between the board and the Carbondale Education Association, granting raises between 2 percent and 2.25 percent between 2015-16 and 2017-18.
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