District says proposed levy request is lower this year; tax-rate estimates to fall
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Summary
Board members heard that the district plans to request about $639,000 less than last year for the levy, and staff projected a tax-rate reduction (discussed as moving from 5.4473 to 4.9474) while cautioning that county figures in spring will finalize numbers.
A district presenter told the board the proposed levy request for the coming fiscal year is approximately $639,000 lower than the prior year and that staff expect the district’s tax rate to decline modestly.
"We're actually asking for our levy less than we did last year by about 639,000," the presenter said, adding that the district is bringing the tax rate down and framed the change as beneficial to taxpayers. The presenter cautioned these are estimates and that final numbers will come from the county in the spring.
The presenter also drew the board's attention to a fund-balance "litmus test" included in the levy packet: staff described a calculation that averages the last three years of main operating funds and multiplies that average by 2.5; if a district's total fund balance exceeds that figure the packet indicates the district would need to reduce balances. The presenter said the district is not close to that threshold and noted the district plans a large debt payment on Jan. 15 that will reduce fund balances.
Board members asked procedural questions but no formal change to the levy request was recorded at this meeting; staff said they will provide finalized county figures when available.