School's tax levy will drop for 2011

Chuck Kajer, Managing Editor

The New Prague Area School Board approved the maximum allowable levy for its preliminary 2011 tax levy. If that figure wins final approval, it will mean a decease of about 4.4 percent in the school's share of local property taxes.

Finance Director Sandy Linn presented the figures to the school board during their meeting Monday, Sept. 27. Two weeks earlier she had given the board preliminary numbers, but these, she said were more accurate.

Part of the reason for the decrease was previous year corrections to figures in several of the categories for which the district can levy, such as a drop of $314,418 in the Health and Safety levy and a drop of $551,040 in the debt service levy, which Linn said will likely go back up in a year or two. In addition, there was a drop of $158,754 in the voter approved levy.

Based on the figures available, the school taxes on a $200,000 home will go down from $991 in 2010 to $948, a drop of $44.

Board members approved the levy. The board will hold a Truth in Taxation hearing in December, after which they will set the final levy for 2011. The amount approved in December cannot increase, but can be reduced from the amount approved in September.