Members of the Community
Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night approved a $3,561,741
levy for 2022 property taxes collectible in 2023. The levy proposal now goes to
the County Clerk, who will determine the amount of tax revenue the school
actually is entitled to receive on the basis of the current equalized assessed
valuation and restrictions in place under the Property Tax Extension Limitation
Law (PTELL) approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995. PTELL generally
restricts increases in the tax extension to no more than five percent or the
consumer price index, whichever is less. For the first time since PTELL was
enacted, this year’s consumer price index, essentially the rate of inflation,
exceeded five percent. In theory, the district could capture a full five
percent increase in property tax revenue for next year.
Supt. Shane Owsley
presented a detailed PowerPoint regarding the proposed levy last month before
it was placed on file for a public review. Because the proposed levy exceeded
last year’s tax extension by more than five percent, the board was required to
conduct a public hearing Monday night before voting to approve the levy. The
hearing, as usual, was more of a formality since no members of the public
appeared before the board to ask questions or comment on the levy proposal.
The board typically levies for more than the district actually is entitled to receive in order to maximize property tax revenue. The levy request, for example, exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,186,897 by more than $400,000. With the application of tax caps, however, the district expects to receive no more than $3,375,869 of the $3,561,741 it is requesting.
Broken down by fund, the proposed levy seeks to generate
$1,568,864 for the Education Fund, $410,370 for Operations and Maintenance,
$166,244 for Transportation, $37,722 for Working Cash, $109,322 for IMRF,
$98,890 for Social Security, $222,459 for the Tort Fund, $30,395 for Special
Education, and $917,475 for the Bond and Interest Fund.
The
levy was unanimously approved on a motion by Weye Schmidt, seconded by Board
President Mark Hayes.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of nearly three hours to discuss
personnel, the board voted unanimously to reappoint the entire fall sports
coaching staff for the 2023-24 school year.
Board members also voted to hire Amanda Manley for a six-hour
food service position at BenGil Elementary School, Cara Schalk for a six-hour
food service shift at Gillespie High School/Middle School, Brad Snyder for a
three-hour food service spot at BenGil Elementary School, and Janice Allan for
a three-hour food service shift at the high school/middle school.
The board also voted unanimously to hire Lance Jarman as a
substitute bus driver.
FUND TRANSFER
In other action, the board voted unanimously to transfer $75,000
from the district’s Occupation Retail Tax Fund to the Bond and Interest Fund,
and to abate the same amount in property taxes revenue for 2022. The action,
taken annually for the past several years, keeps the board’s commitment to use
20 percent of money received from a school facilities sales tax approved by
voters several years ago to pay down bonds sold to finance construction of the
BenGil Elementary School.
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