News : School board sets tentative budget; tax rate remains the same but taxes to rise

The property tax levy rate will remain the same for Vinton-Shellsburg School District property owners, but many will see an increase in their property taxes because of increased property valuation.

The Vinton-Shellsburg School Board agreed to a budget that includes a property tax levy of $15.68 per thousand dollars of taxable value during its meeting Monday. That is the same level as last year's budget. But increased property value means that the district will receive $6,403,965 from property owners, an increase from last year's $6,100,350.

The board approved this budget, not knowing what the state legislature will do for school funding. The budget assumes a zero percent allowable growth; if the legislature approves a 2 percent allowable growth for school districts, the tax levy could decrease.

The board, said Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock, can approve a lower tax levy than that $15.68 that it is officially publishing, but not a higher rate. One of the challenges of the school budgeting process is that state law requires school districts to certify the budget by April 15, whether or not the legislature has clearly set state funding for schools.