B-T budget approved with reduced tax levy

A budget that shows a 7.76 percent decrease in the tax levy from the 2020-21 school year was approved at the Blair-Taylor School District annual meeting last week Monday.

District superintendent Jeff Eide said that the property taxes were reduced because the district received more state aid. A levy of roughly $3.88 million was approved, down from $4.2 million that was approved last year. The tax rate also saw a reduction from $9.42 per $1,000 of equalized value to $8.67. 

While that was good news for district residents in 2021, Eide warned that the future might not be so bright due. The state biennial budget did not increase the amount of per pupil aid, which could cause issues next year. 

“The bottom line is there’s not really new monies coming in this fashion,” Eide said. 

To help supplement for this budget, the district was able to use federal ESSER funding, but that money is temporary.

“There is stimulus money we are utilizing for operation needs, however, that’s one time money,” Eide said, adding that the district may need to look at an operation referendum when that money is spent.

With the savings this year, Eide said the district should be able to build up its fund balance. He noted that two years ago, the district had to take nearly $120,000 out of the balance and last year took nearly $45,000. This year, however, the projected revenues were more than the expenditures, which Eide said should help build the fund balance up by about $58,000.

Included in the packet for the annual meeting was a letter from the district’s financial advisor Johnson Block, stating the district’s financial position is strong. 

The district did not need to use short-term borrowing for cash flow last year, however meeting attendees unanimously approved the option to borrow up to $500,000 if needed this year.

Voters also approved a raise of $100 for school board members. The last salary increase came in 2017.

The meeting was held in conjunction with the district’s regular meeting, which they approved the creation of Fund 46 for capitol improvement projects. The board also voted to put $25,000 in the fund. Money put in that fund can’t be used for a minimum of five years, projects that it could be used for included a new athletic track and boiler upgrades in the school.

The board also voted to hire two teachers — Hannah Dahl and Lisa Brefeld — for the district’s child care center and heard that four more had accepted offers that day. If the four are approved by the school board, the center will be fully-staffed. Eide said the district was still waiting on certification from the state and that the teachers would require a training period before the center could open.