School Board proposes 2013-14 budget; date for public hearing set

The Decorah Community School Board has proposed a budget of $32,943,093 for the 2013-14 school year. This is based on a 4 percent allowable growth rate, but the legislature has yet to determine school funding so lower, alternative, budgets remain a possibility.

The current budget reflects a decrease in residential property tax rates of $.28 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, down to $15.89.  For a $200,000 home that equates to a reduction of about $27. Similar reductions occur for agricultural and business properties. Those rates could go lower if allowable growth is set lower by the legislature.  The decreased rate is related to an increase in taxable valuations of almost $19 million for the district, as well as low bond rates on the recent high school renovation financing.

School officials noted the positive situation Decorah is in – with stable or increasing enrollment, in contrast to many shrinking school districts that consequently have shrinking state funds. In another discussion Monday night, Superintendent Mike Haluska noted that later the board would be approving 16 open enrollments and consequently receive significantly more state funding.

A public hearing date of April 8, 6:05 p.m. has been set regarding the budget, with approval anticipated following that hearing.