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Trinity slightly cuts taxes in next year’s budget

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Property owners in Trinity Area School District will see a 2 percent decrease in their school tax bills next year.

The school board Thursday approved the 2018-19 budget, which includes a dip in real estate taxes from the current 13.6 mills to 13.31 mills. The $58.06 million spending plan is larger than this year’s by roughly $2.07 million.

New property values under Washington County reassessment took effect during the current school year. District officials had to balance out revenue to account for new values while assessment appeals were pending.

Trinity finance director Matt Howard said the appeals “came in a little bit better than anticipated, which permitted us to lower the taxes a little bit.”

The 0.29-mill reduction will save the owner of a property assessed at $158,000 – the median of assessed values for homestead properties – about $46 a year. It will cut revenue collection from property taxes by about $500,000, Howard said.

Along with mandatory increases for salaries, employer pension contributions and other benefits, Howard said five new school police officers will cost the district another $200,000 next year. Officials also created two faculty positions at the high school – one in the special education department and another for the new sports medicine program.

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