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Ringgold budget has tax increase

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NEW EAGLE – Ringgold School Board, as expected Wednesday, approved a 2017-2018 district budget that includes a small increase in real estate taxes to pay for rising pension contributions and health care costs.

The upcoming $44.3 million budget is identical to the preliminary spending plan that was introduced by the school board in May, said Randy Skrinjorich, the district’s finance director.

Skrinjorich said the district has been fortunate because it’s building a new middle school that is paid for at a time when other districts are struggling to meet expenses.

“We’re on solid ground,” board President William Stein Jr. said.

He said the board didn’t want to cut programs.

“We want our children to have every opportunity,” Stein said at the board meeting in the district’s administration building in New Eagle.

The .42-mill tax increase will raise $546,000 for the district.

Prior to the Washington County tax reassessment that changed market values this tax season, 1 mil in Ringgold generated $125,000 in income, Stein said. Now, one mill will raise $31,250, Stein said.

Director Larry Mauro cast the only no vote on the budget, saying he would have preferred the board was given alternative spending plans to save money.

The new budget has the real estate tax rate set at 13.7 mills, and it shows that local taxes will earn $21.1 million in revenues.

State subsidies are set at $22.3 million.

The salaries for regular teaching programs will cost taxpayers $8.7 million plus $6.3 million in employee benefits. Administrative salaries and benefits are set at $2.5 million, district records indicate.

The debt service will cost the district $5 million.

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