Blue Ridge Unified School District holds truth-in-taxation hearing on $634,000 levy increase

Business Manager Courtney Hoffmeyer told the Blue Ridge Unified School District No. 32 board during a public truth-in-taxation hearing that the district is proposing a $634,000 increase to its primary property tax levy. Hoffmeyer presented figures for taxpayers and answered questions; no public questions were raised during the hearing.

The hearing matters because the levy change would affect property-tax bills and is intended to fund capital work. Hoffmeyer said the proposed increase would raise primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to $36.20. She also said the presentation included a figure of $18.10 described as the amount “without the tax increases,” and she said last year’s primary rate was “about $34.” Hoffmeyer added the district’s primary tax rate is nevertheless falling overall because of a lower bond payment.

Hoffmeyer described the capital projects the levy is intended to support. “These projects are going to be the bus loop in the back between the junior high and the high school,” she said, describing the current back bus loop as “just dirt right now and really needs to be paved.” She also said the district plans “some parking lot and parking lot adjustments at the elementary school,” and that quotes for those projects were provided to the board for review.

A board member who opened and closed the hearing said, “Projects like this are very important. So thank you, Courtney.” Hoffmeyer told the board this hearing is for public transparency and that the board would vote on the levy during the remainder of the meeting.

No formal action on the levy was taken during the hearing itself; the board did not vote during the public-hearing portion and no public commenters asked questions before the hearing was closed.