Saint Joseph board sets total tax rate at 4.9163; district rolls back debt levy to avoid increase

The Saint Joseph School District Board of Education unanimously approved a total tax rate of 4.9163 at Wednesday’s meeting, keeping the district’s overall property tax burden the same as the prior year.

Finance staff told the board the rate was calculated using the state auditor’s formula and the district’s assessed valuation, new construction and personal property figures. The recommended breakdown presented to the board included a normal operating levy of 3.7429, a temporary operating levy of 0.6033 and a debt service levy of 0.5701. The district said the debt service levy was voluntarily rolled back from a calculated maximum of 0.6675 to 0.5701 so the total rate would remain unchanged.

Why it matters: The voluntary rollback preserves the district’s existing overall tax rate while the debt levy remains sufficient, the administration said, to cover scheduled bond payments. District staff said they work with Raymond James, the district’s municipal advisor, to verify debt‑service requirements matched the proposed debt rate.

Board action: A motion to set the total tax rate at 4.9163 passed with recorded yes votes from Miss Williams, Miss Miller, Miss Chesney, Miss Kearns, Miss Lanning, Mister Moore and Mister Richmond. The board did not change the district’s temporary levy figure but noted that the temporary levy is a sunset levy that would need renewal in future years if continued.

Details and next steps: Administration noted the state provides a pro forma calculation that splits levies by fund (incidental/operating, debt service). The debt service figure presented was described as sufficient for the district’s bond obligations; finance staff said a document from the state auditor containing the detailed calculation was included in the board packet for review. No additional action was taken to raise the rate; the board adopted the recommended totals.