Increased Tax Levy Recommended for District 15

The District 15 Board of Education was presented with a proposed 2013 tax levy on Wednesday that recommends capturing the value of new EAV growth, something that was not done last year.

Michael Adamczyk, the district's assistant superintendent for business, advised the board to levy approximately $117 million, a 4 percent increase over 2012. He said the amount would be sufficient to capture the five-year average of new growth and the 1.7 percent CPI increase. The proposed levy assumes a $10 million growth in EAV, though the true figure won't be known until May.

Last year, the board passed a resolution not to capture new EAV, thus failing to realize an additional $336,000 in revenue.

"The question is, does the board want to capture new growth or not," said Adamczyk, adding it would be helpful to him to have board consensus on the matter given the levy has to be adopted at the Dec. 11 meeting.

Supt. Scott Thompson said the administration's recommendation is to capture new growth, because the district's five-year financial forecast includes it, and not doing so could place them in jeopardy of future deficit spending.

Board President Peggy Babcock agreed, along with board members Richard Bokor, James Ekeberg and David Seiffert. Gerard Iannuzzelli was absent from the meeting.

Just say no

Citing staff pay increases, board member Manjula Sriram said she was flat-out against asking district taxpayers, many of whom are on a fixed income, for more money. "We still haven't learned to live within our means. I can't support a tax increase no matter what it means."

"This is our means for operating the school system," said Thompson, who also suggested the district could review the potential for tax abatement should there be enough reserve in fund balances, but it wouldn't happen this fiscal year.

Board member Scott Herr, who indicated he was not in favor of a levy increase, said he felt it wasn't unrealistic to look into tax abatement this year.

The board will vote on adoption of the final 2013 aggregate tax levy at its Dec. 11 meeting.

Tonight, the Township High School District 211 School Board will discuss its proposed tax levy, which calls for a 1.2 percent increase over 2012.