The Marion Center School Board got a first look at 2017-2018 budget figures at their work session on Monday night.
The board heard from Business Manager Richard Martini that the district would face a substantial revenue loss thanks to many property owners in the district enrolling in the Clean and Green program, which is a preferential property tax assessment program for properties 10 acres in size or more and it bases property taxes on use values rather than fair market values. Martini said that this year, the district is facing roughly $202,000 in lost taxes from the Clean and Green program.
Factoring in the district budget with the lost revenue from Clean and Green, the district would need to raise taxes by nearly 5% to balance their budget. Despite this, Martini has recommended that the district move forward with making a pledge to not raise taxes above the Act 1 index, which is 3.5% and try to tighten the belt elsewhere.
A vote on the district taking a pledge to not raise taxes above the state mandated index will be taken next week at the school board voting session.
