School Board sets 2019-20 budget and tax rates

On Monday night the Interim Decorah Community School Board approved its 2019-20 budget and district tax rates.

The budget of just over $35 million and the property tax levies were passed without any written or public comments to the board.  The tax rate will vary between the former Decorah and North Winn districts. The rate in the upcoming year will be $12.55366 per $1,000 assessed valuation for residents in the former Decorah district and $11.79983 per $1,000 assessed valuation for residents in the former North Winn district. In FY19 those rates are $13.82682 in Decorah and $9.73526 in North Winn (North Winn had no debt service and no voted PPEL).

When school districts merge within the state, and the smaller district votes to approve that merger, residents of that smaller district will receive a tax benefit for a period of three years. At the end of that time, all residents in the district will be taxed at the same rate.