School board agrees on initial levy

The Princeton School Board voted at its meeting Sept. 15 to approve the initial, drafted, maximum levy that shows an increase of 13.62 percent for the 2016-2017 school year. Director of Business Services Michelle Czech said the board historically approves the maximum potential levy before the state’s end-of-September deadline.
Between now and the end of the year when final levies are set, both the state and school district continue working the numbers to arrive at the final amount. Board members agreed the maximum would be “worked down” if possible, and the final number will be presented at a truth-in-taxation hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at a Princeton School Board meeting.
A levy spreadsheet Czech circulated at the meeting says the three district-related levies – general education, community education and debt – add up to a total of $6,921,021 for the 2016-2017 year. She said each relevant county will take the school district’s proposed levy amount and calculate its distribution across the tax base according to property classification and value.
Czech said the counties send tax statements in November that show how much each person’s actual taxes will increase as a result of the school-district levy.
The business director said the biggest difference in Princeton between this year and last year is the $651,838 added for a long-term deferred maintenance and safety plan, a new requirement from the state in 2015. The new rule requires that a school district list, prioritize and fund its safety and maintenance projects for 10 years out, when previously it was a three-year health and safety plan.
Czech points out that the majority of the money for operating the district comes from $24 million in state aid plus grants and other funding. She said the preliminary budget is presented in June and finalized in February. People can get more information about the school-district financials at its website – www.princeton.k12.mn.us, click on departments, click on payroll and finance, and then click on audit and financial statements.