TCU tax levy to be zero increase

Residents in the Tri-City United School District won’t see an increase in the school portion of the 2016 property tax levy.

At the regular meeting meeting of the  TCU School Board, which also included the truth in taxation hearing, TCU Business Manager Robin Pikal told the board the final certification of the 2016 tax levy is $5.9 million, which represents a zero percent increase from last year.

Pikal went over some of the regulations and laws governing the ways school districts can set their portion of the property tax. She also noted that some variables like market value, value of properties, voter-approved referendums and increase in levy tax funding formulas can cause increases or decreases in property taxes.

Board member Amy Barnett questioned if aid from the state could affect the district’s levy. Pikal assured the board that any proposal for legislative changes after July 1, 2015, would not affect the TCU District. 

“The state cannot go back and make changes to (fiscal year) 2015-16,” she said. “Any changes after July 1, 2015, would be for the 2016-17 school year.”

The district had originally set the maximum levy as allowed by the state, which was a .36 percent increase. Superintendent Teri Preisler said since then, the school’s Finance Committee worked to lower the tax levy in areas where the district was able.

“In the areas we do have control we did make a determination to under levy to get it to  zero percent change,” Preisler said. “It’s another example we’re wisely using our taxpayers’ funds.”