USD 410 lowers tax levy years ago
But increase in property values may send taxes higher
The USD 410 property tax levy will decrease slightly this year, according to the 2002-03 budget passed Monday night by the board of education.
The budget reduces the Local Option Budget mill levy by 4.35, but it brings the Capital Outlay mill levy up from zero to 4.0. Factored in with a 0.284 increase in Bond and Interest, that means the total mill levy decreases from 48.923 to 48.860 — a minuscule decrease for Hillsboro property owners.
Rising property values in the district have allowed the mill levy decrease, said Superintendent Gordon Mohn. For while the mill levy decreases, money brought in by the LOB is expected to exceed $1 million for the first time ever.
So while levies decrease in the area, the actual amount of property taxes that residents pay may increase.
The Capital Outlay levy should generate more than $60,000 for the district this year, Mohn said. As the levy takes full effect in future years, that amount should raise $109,000 in ad valorem taxes and $20,000 in motor vehicle taxes.
The overall total for the entire district budget this year will be just over $4 million, at $4,724,016.
Also at the school board meeting, board members heard from Athletic Director Max Heinrichs that the Robert C. Brown Gymnasium floor won't be ready this week for athletic practice.
Work crews from Great American Hardwood Floors haven't finished painting the lines on the floor. It should be ready by next week, Heinrichs estimated.
"I'm pleased with the quality — I'm not pleased with the time," Heinrichs said.
In other BOE business:
— The board heard a presentation from IMA, an insurance company based in Wichita.
USD 410 is considering changing its insurance policy from its current one at Hillsboro's Insurance Center.
IMA is a national company, and some of the local organizations they insure include the City of Hillsboro, Marion Manufacturing, and Hillsboro Industries. They also provide insurance for school districts near Wichita, including Derby, Goddard, and Andover.
Later in the evening, board members discussed the need to hear a similar presentation from Richard Nikkel, owner of the Insurance Center, before they made any decision to take their insurance business out of Hillsboro.
"If we're considering IMA, we owe it to Richard Nikkel," said board president Cal Jost.
"We've been pleased with the Insurance Center," Mohn said.
Mohn would like more information from IMA before making a decision — he thought their presentation would be more relevant, he said.
— This year's senior class has 67 members — a large class, compared to the 50 seniors that graduated in the spring, said HHS Principal Dale Honeck.
Four exchange students will be attending HHS this fall, he said.
— The board reviewed the guidelines for non-school entities wanting to use school facilities.
In most basic terms, most non-profit groups can use all school facilities for free — but some community groups, such as Kiwanis or the Chamber of Commerce, could be required to pay a fee for air conditioning.
For-profit groups that are "child-centered," such as dance classes or sports camps, are required to pay $60 to use the big gym, and $20 to use all other areas. They're also charged $10 per hour for air conditioning.
The dance classes run by Mohn's wife, "Vicky's School of Dance," would fall under this category.
For-profit business groups have to pay higher fees. They're charged $85 per event at the big gym, and $25 per event to use all other locations in the school.
