Jun 21, 2016 2 min read

JEFFERSON – Jefferson-Morgan School Board adopted the district’s 2016-17 budget Monday night, holding the line on property taxes for the upcoming year.

The board voted 8-0 during its agenda meeting to adopt the $14.117 million spending plan, under which property taxes in the district will remain at 27.11 mills.

The budget includes increases in the “basic” costs, including salaries and benefits, business manager Jennifer Foringer said. Retirement costs increased slightly more than 4 percent and health care costs jumped about 5 percent, she said.

On the other hand, the district expects to see a decrease in special education costs and in costs for retired teacher health care benefits as a number of retired teachers turn 65 and are no longer eligible for the benefits, Foringer said.

The district also expects to receive about $120,000 more in state funding this year, she said.

This year, property owners eligible for the homestead or farmstead exception will be able to subtract $246.67 from their property tax bill. That figure is a slight increase from previous years.

The board last year raised property taxes by 1.48 mills, partly to help cover costs associated the middle-senior high renovation project.

In other business, the board approved a new five-year transportation contract with First Student. The district had issued a request for proposals for the contract and receives two proposals, Foringer said. First Student, the district’s current transportation provider, submitted the low bid.

The board also voted to purchase new HMH social studies textbooks for the elementary for a cost of $15,719. The books had been recommended by the elementary school staff.

Board member Dan Wagner was absent from the meeting.