The annual Truth in Taxation meeting, presentation of the payable 2015 levy and the appointment of a new board member were among the items on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Becker Board of Education Monday night.

 

District Business Mgr. Joe Prom conducted the annual Truth in Taxation presentation, which included breakdowns of district finances from 2013 through projected 2015.  The 2013-14 financial results for all funds showed an audited balance as of 6/30/2013 of $22,388,526, with revenues of $31,037,182, expenditures of $47,876,275, “other” financing sources totaling $234,983 and a total variance of a negative $16,604,110 (primarily from the building construction fund) and an audited balance as of 6/30/2014 of $5,784,416.

 

The 2014-15 budget of all funds showed an audited balance of $5,784,416 as of 6/30/2014, revenues of $31,022,236, expenditures of $34,296,737, “other” financing sources of $170,000 and a variance of a negative $3,104,501 (also primarily from the building construction fund) and a projected ending fund balance of $2,679,915 as of 6/30/2015.

 

The debt service levy showed an increase of $47,570, and the community education levy showed a decrease of $9,217.

 

According to the presentation, levy amounts are determined by formulas set by the Legislature.  The MN Dept. of Education then calculates levy limits for each district based on those formulas and the board of education adopts a proposed levy each September.

 

The county assessor determines a market value for each parcel to begin the property tax process.  The Legislature then sets formulas for tax capacity for various types of property, after which the county auditor calculates the tax capacity for each parcel based on those two steps.  The county auditor then divides the total levy by the total tax capacity for the district to determine the tax rate.

 

The proposed 2014 pay 2015 levy presented was $7,584,281, a 1.16 per cent decrease with all funds considered.  Operating referendum levies decreased by $526,155, Prom said, while “equity and local operational revenue levies” increased by $656,430, the health and safety levies increased by $374,733, the “other post employment benefits” (OPEB) levy saw an increase of $108,966 due to a “sunset provision” in the BEA contract, the reemployment levy decreased by $23,152, and levies in nine other categories decreased by a total of $33,011.  (See attached chart for 2012-2015 levy breakdown.)  The board then voted unanimously to approve the proposed 2015 levy as presented.

 

Specific questions regarding the levy can be directed to Prom at jprom@becker.k12.mn.us, and questions regarding property values may be sent to the Sherburne County Assessor’s Office, at assessor@co.sherburne.mn.us.

 

The board considered applications from three candidates to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Board Member Sheri Lumley last month.  State statutes allow the board to fill such a vacancy without the need for a special election.

 

Letters of application had been received by the Nov. 24 deadline from Curtis Hed, Phillip Norgaard and Ryan Obermoller.  Following a short discussion, which included comments from board members as to the high quality of all three applicants interested in the position, the board unanimously approved a motion to offer the position to Norgaard.  None of the candidates were present at the Monday meeting.

 

Board Member Bryan Olson said that Norgaard had served on the board in the past, and is familiar with the district and has worked well with stakeholders in the past.  Vice-Chairman Jason Kindred also commented that Norgaard’s experience will make for an “easier transition” when he joins the board in January.  The term of the position will expire on Dec. 31, 2016.

 

The board also approved adoption of Policy 223 Strategic Goals after some discussion.  Board Member Mark Swanson stated that he would have liked to see more discussion on the raw data collected by the board before making a decision to adopt the policy. He also said he felt more board members should have been involved in the development process.  Board Member Bryan Olson said that it was the board members job to study and filter the raw data before making recommendations, and  he was not sure what Swanson was asking for in relation to the process.  The policy was adopted with Swanson the lone dissenter.

 

Olson reported a short list of items is still being dealt with on the “punch list” from the construction crews on the new performing arts center and swimming pool facilities, and some issues remain with the lighting on the new tennis courts.  The new Teaching and Learning Center is expected to be completed in two to three weeks, Olson said, and it may be possible to hold the January board meeting there.