K-M School Board approves tax levy increase

The Kasson- Mantorville School Board approved the 2019 payable tax levy on Mon- day night during their regu- larly scheduled school board meeting.

The levy amount approved by the board was set at $5,076, 836.21. The levy increase will be a increase of 4.52 percent compared to last year.

Despite the increase this year the tax levy amount is roughly the same as it was dur- ing the 2015-2016 tax levy year when the amount of the levy was $5,061,642.69.

Before the vote took place, earlier in the meeting K-M Business Manager Bob Hasz gave a Truth in Taxation presentation explaining the budget and where taxpayers money goes to as part of the levy process.

According to the presenta- tion 65 percent of the budget is used for instruction, 16 percent for instructional and pupil sup- port, 11 percent for building and sites, 5 percent for admin- istration and 3 percent for dis- trict support services.

“About 81 percent of the funding from the levy is used directly for students in the classroom,” Hasz said.

As it was pointed out during the meeting there are a few fac- tors when it comes to the levy. These main points were the following:

• Revenue formulas are set by the State Legislature except for voter-approved referen- dums and for the most part per student driven.
• Local Levy and State Aid mix are set by the State Legis- lature.
• An increase in local taxes does not necessarily mean an increase in revenues for the school district. Some tax increases are offset by a decrease in state aid.

Also during the meeting K-M Superintendent Mark Matuska thanked outgoing school board members Rob Hamlin and Brea Koebele for their years of service on the school board.

As part of their appreciation they were both given KoMet Koins, a plaque and will be allowed to attend any K-M activity for free for life.

The next K-M School Board Meeting is slated for Monday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. which will be

the Organizational Meeting.