Proposed Decorah School District budget calls for level or reduced tax rate

The Decorah Community School District has proposed a 2016-17 budget of $26,614,527.  Since the Iowa Legislature has not yet set Supplemental State Aid (formerly known as allowable growth), the tax levy for the budget has been set based on zero percent allowable growth. That would call for a $14.95729 levy per $1,000 taxable valuation, slightly higher than the current $14.95374.  However, that assessment is likely to decrease when the Legislature comes to an agreement, expected to be at two percent or higher. A two percent allowable growth would adjust the local assessment down to $14.73838.  

The tax rate has been on the decline, from a high of $16.71.  That is mostly due to an increase in total taxable valuation in the district. This year the valuation will increase by over $34 million, to $584,624,775.

A public hearing for the budget has been set for April 11, 6 p.m., at the District Office.