News
Westhope School District holds public meeting
Scott Wagar
10/14/2014
The Westhope School District held its public meeting on Oct. 8 to discuss why the district might have to increase its mill levy by 54.38 percent from 2014 to 2015.
John Gruenberg, superintendent of the Westhope School District, stated that the increase in the levy had to do with the estimated total cost and bond debt for the building project of the Westhope School, which includes renovation work and additions added on to the present school.
Gruenberg showed through a PowerPoint presentation that the estimated total cost for the building project is at $5,134, 343, with the bonded debt at $4,500,000. Yearly payments on the debt will be $263,309 for 20 years.
He also stated that the present mill levy is at 74.49 mills, but that the total expected levy would be 103.91 mills, or a 54.38 percent increase in mills.
“Without the building project there is zero increase (in the mill levy from last year to this school year),” Gruenberg said. “With the building project there is an increase over zero and the state requires the school district to hold an informational public meeting.”
Gruenberg added that a decrease in oil and gas revenue from the last school year to this year has caused an issue with the mill levy.
He stated that last year’s oil and gas revenue was $300,000, but since the Westhope School District reached a $5 million cap on oil and gas revenue the district only received $80,000 this year through oil and gas profits.
Gruenberg also said that the increase in the mill levy is only for the school district, not the entire tax base of the local taxpayers.
“Of your total taxes, 39 percent of your taxes go to the school district,” Gruenberg said.
Gruenberg presented a document to those in attendance, too, that showed the different valuation of property in the district, and what the increase would be for its residents. The document showed that for a residential property owner whose property value is at $100,000, that owner would have a monthly increase of $13.72 over a 20 year period.
The monthly increase for agriculture and commercial properties would be $15.25 for over 20 years.
The final decision on the mill levy will take place in the near future. Individuals, who have any questions about the mill levy, can contact Gruenberg at Westhope Public School.