Dixon USD 170 board approves 2025 tax levy, abates bonds and accepts FY25 audit
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Summary
The Dixon Unit District 170 board approved the district’s 2025 tax levy and abatements for two bond series, and accepted a clean FY25 audit. Board members voted unanimously to move forward with levy documents and deliver them to the county clerk.
The Dixon Unit District 170 board approved its 2025 tax levy, passed resolutions to abate taxes for two bond series and accepted the district’s fiscal year 2025 audit at its Dec. 17 meeting.
Board finance staff said the assessor’s equalized assessed value rose roughly 4 percent, which generally translates to about a 4 percent increase in a typical taxpayer’s bill. Mark (finance) told the board the district’s levy request is $24,714,000 (with debt service shown at about $28,000,000) and that the district estimates it will be entitled to $23,523,000 plus debt service of $26,000,811. He said the effective tax rate is expected to remain about 4.92.
Board members moved and seconded to approve the tax year 2025 levy as presented. Administration said two board members would sign levy documents that night and the paperwork would be delivered to the county clerk the next day. A roll-call vote recorded the motion as approved by the full board.
On separate motions the board approved resolutions abating taxes for Series 2018A and Series 2019A alternate revenue bonds; finance staff explained the abatement uses county facility sales tax as the alternate revenue source so taxpayers are not billed directly for those bond payments. The board was told the Series 2018A bond final payment is scheduled for 2038 and Series 2019A for 2036.
The board also accepted the district’s FY25 audit, presented by Becca Paul. Paul said auditors issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the basic financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and that the auditors reported no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal controls. She noted cash and deposits were properly collateralized at year-end and summarized the district’s revenue and expense profile: FY25 revenue on a full-accrual basis totaled about $47,200,000, with property taxes remaining the largest source (about 50 percent). Paul and finance staff identified outstanding bond-related debt and related interest and reported a remaining legal debt margin.
Mark pointed out the annual financial report shows an official deficit of $1,439,626 for the year and reminded the board that acceptance of the audit is an acknowledgement of receipt, not an approval of every line item. The board voted to accept the audit by roll call.
What’s next: Board signatories will deliver levy documents to the county clerk as soon as signatures are complete. The district plans to continue monitoring revenues and expenditures as it prepares potential budget-reduction recommendations for January in response to insurance cost increases, lower federal grant revenue and enrollment declines.
Quotes: “The levy request is 24,714,000,” Mark said. Auditor Becca Paul said, “We issued two different audit reports … the independent auditor’s report had an unmodified or clean opinion.”
Votes at a glance: - Approve tax year 2025 levy: outcome approved (roll call recorded as Aye by present members). - Resolution abating taxes, 2025 Series 2018A: outcome approved (Aye). - Resolution abating taxes, 2025 Series 2019A: outcome approved (Aye). - Accept FY25 audit: outcome approved (Aye).
Ending: The board completed the fiscal items and moved on to other business, with administration preparing levy signatures and noting bond payments due in January.
