Update - March 29, 2017 - just heard that they're going to advertise for the open board seat on March 30, 2017 and that they moved the time to submit your letter of intent and resume from APRIL 17, 2017 to APRIL 7, 2017. That doesn't seem like much Notice Time and just a Tad Bit Not Nice. Anyhoo, heads-up 'cause it sure seems like their limiting the candidate pool.
Well, took a peek at the above caucus meeting and there's some things you probably might want to note for your pocketbook's sake.
First, we have them approving the 2017-18 Pot of Money they call a School Budget to be sent to the County for approval. Of course, they don't tell you what's in it because they first have to get County approval. Only thing they would say is that they stayed under the 2% Cap and Ratables are up by $30 million, which helps keeps the tax rate down.
Of course, there are a lot of ways to stay under the 2% Cap and all the increase in the Ratables does is to spread their Out-of-Control $pending over more taxpayers. So, we'll have to wait to see their budget before we can understand what's in it, how they stayed under the cap, what the school tax rate is and how and why it changed over last year's $2.932 school rate.
However, you can do a quick guesstimate of what the school tax rate is in this budget just by looking at last year's budget here (pages 2 & 3), knowing they stayed under the 2% Cap and Ratables are up $30 million.
When they say they stayed under the 2% Cap, they are talking about the fiscal year tax levy. Last year's fiscal year tax levy was $210 million and staying under 2% probably means somewhere in the 1.90% to 1.99% range - and that would make the 2017-18 fiscal year tax levy in the $214.0 to $214.2 million range. When you convert that to the calendar year tax levy (1/2 of the 2016-17 fiscal year tax levy and 1/2 of the 2017-18 fiscal year tax levy), you get a range of $212.0 to $212.1 million.
When you divide that calendar year tax levy by the Ratables of $7,096.3 billion (up $30 million), you get a school tax rate range of $2.987 to $2.989 for 2017. That's a tax rate increase of 5.5 to 5.7-Cents over last year's $2.932.
If you live in that imaginary home assessed at $177,300, then your tax increase will be in the range of $98 to $101 and your school tax bill will be between $5,297 and $5,299. Of course the tax rate change of 5.5 to 5.7-Cents is a net number, meaning that $pending had to be Up since it was offset somewhat by the increase in Ratables.
Second, we have them announcing the procedure for filling the open board seat. According to Dr. Frank, they're going to advertise it and put it up on the website for anyone interested to submit a letter of intent and resume by April 17, 2017 - and those interested will be given 5 to 10 minutes at the April 19, 2017 Caucus meeting to say why they should be on the board. The Board will then go into closed session to discuss and pick someone to fill the open seat. Since ties don't work, they must keep at it until someone gets a majority. If they can't break the tie and the 65 days runs out, the County Super will pick a replacement.
So, anybody who is interested should make sure you get your paperwork in on time. Surely there's got to be somebody out there that has an interest in making sure that the often forgotten stakeholder in Mythomania World of Out-of-Control $pending over there on Mythomania Lane, that being the taxpayer - you know, the one that pays over 90% of the bills, has a seat at the table.
Finally, we have the final settlement agreement on the James Monroe School. Seems the whole James Monroe fiasco of it's not just us, it's not just them is at an end. Apparently, they settled the last piece of $682, for $320k.
So, this now brings the total cost of delays and penalties with our temporary space in getting into the school ($1,500,000) and getting the school completed ($320,000) to a Whopping $1, 820,000.
Let's give them a big round of applause for Wasting $1,820,000 of Your Money. Good job!
Anyhoo, what do I know? I still can't figure out why they think the state would even give them more money when they can't control what they do with the money they already have.
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