HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The USD 308 School Board Monday formally approved the 2015-16 budget after a short public hearing.
While the mill levy rate is up compared to 2014-15, it remains below the 2013-14 levy. The 2013-14 levy was 60.183 mills, 3.903 mills more than the proposed 2015-16 levy of 56.28. The mill levy dropped for the 2014-15 school year because of state-provided equalization money for the district’s local option budget. Later in the school year, a portion of the promised equalization money was reduced by the state.
The block grants approved by the 2015 Legislature essentially froze general state aid for school operations at 2014-15 levels and then reduced that amount by 0.4 percent. Additionally, equalization aid to pay low-wealth districts was reduced between 3 and 28 percent.
Equalization for any increase to capital outlay or local option budget will not be paid by the state under the block grant. This means a higher mill levy increase for local taxpayers for local option budgets increased after July 1, 2015.
To cover the rising costs of inflation, local boards of education are faced with budget cuts or local mill levy increases as well.
Monday’s meeting was the first formal meeting for the board’s newest member. Rudy Rodriguez joined the board, replacing Jennifer Mora who resigned because she had moved out of district. The new member was appointed during a special meeting Aug. 3.