Maximum Tax Levy Finalized by D181 Board

After several months of discussion, District 181 board members voted Monday night at  to finalize a maximum 2011 tax levy that will likely be 2.6 percent larger than the 2010 levy.

In December,  which OK'd an intentionally inflated extension of 3.6 percent. Such an inflation is recommended because factors that determine how much a taxing body can levy in the spring, including total equalized assessed valuation (EAV) and new construction, are not known at that time.  

Some of the air in the balloon will be let out when Whalen receives the district’s actual 2011 EAV and new construction numbers in late March. After those numbers are received, the district has seven days to finalize its levy.

The max levy will likely bring in $51.4 million in operating revenue, an increase of 2.6 percent over the 2010 levy. 

Even after levying to the max, Whalen said, the district could face a deficit next school year if is used in full. 

Board member Glenn Yaeger, who voted against the balloon levy in December, voted in favor of the max levy Monday, saying he said he did not think it was prudent to vote against the max this year given uncertainty in the economy and the state government’s fiscal situation.

Yaeger added, however, that he thinks the levy process is too focused on figuring out how much revenue the district can get and what the maximum allowance according to state statute is, instead of budgeting in advance and figuring out before the levy what revenue the district needs.

“If we would spend as much time going back and recreating a budget ... I think those would be resources and time that would be very well spent,” Yaeger said.

A max levy is not something that should be sought simply because it’s “the way we’ve always done it,” board member Marty Turek said. But like Yaeger, Turek decided this levy was not the time to make a stand.

“Although I don’t like it, I think with the variables out there … I would vote to leave [the levy] where it is and not ratchet it down at this point,” Turek said.

Brendan Heneghan, the other board member who voted against the balloon levy, recommended Monday that the levy be reduced to eliminate three new administrative positions in the district's aforementioned staffing plan that would free up principals to perform state-mandated teacher evaluations. Heneghan said those positions were not discussed enough by the board.

“It always comes back that we will spend the absolute amount that we can,” Heneghan said. “That just troubles me.”

Superintendent Dr. Renée Schuster said that the administration's staffing plan for next year is not yet finalized and the board will have the opportunity to further discuss that plan, including the three positions Heneghan cited.

Monday’s levy talk was split in two because the board wanted to incorporate into the discussion a staffing item later on the agenda. Board members voted unanimously during the first part to grant Whalen the ability to confirm the maximum levy allowed with the understanding that motions could be brought during the second part of discussion if they ultimately felt otherwise.

Heneghan considered such a motion during the second part of discussion but decided against making it because of a likely lack of support. The initial unanimous vote ended up being the vote of record.