LCC School Board approves new budget
LAUREL — The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School Board members approved a property tax request of $6,790,990 at the Sept. 14 meeting. This represents an increase of 1.63 percent compared to the district’s tax asking last year.
The total assessed value of property differs from last year’s total assessed value by a decrease of 3.3 percent. The assessed valuation of all the property in the district is $947,340,158 compared with $979,854,085 last year.
The tax rate, which would levy the same amount of property taxes as was required last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of property, would be $0.705351 per $100 of assessed value.
The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School District proposes to adopt a property tax request that will cause its total tax rate (General and Special Building funds) to be $0.716848 per $100 of assessed value. The total tax rate last year was $0.681945, representing an overall increase of $0.034903 (five percent).
This year’s $9,281,700 General Fund operating budget compares with a $9,760,000 General Fund budget last year. This reflects a five-percent decrease.
The special building fund operating budget was $1,710,969 for 2019-20 and is projected at $2,296,588 for 2020-21.
The 2019-20 property tax request for the special building fund was $728,462 last year and is $555,556 for 2020-21. The tax request for the special building fund decreased by 21 percent.
“I believe that our overall tax asking increase is reasonable in consideration of the property valuation reduction and adjustments to the General and Special Building fund requirements,’’ said Jeremy Christiansen, superintendent. “This represents a modest increase overall.’’
Assessed Valuation:
• Cedar: last year: $763,804,509.
• Dixon: last year: $189,903,257.
• Wayne: last year: $26,146,319.
• Total: last year: $979,854,085.
Brianna Campbell took an oath of office and presented a report of high school events.
“Students in the high school are adjusting well to new safety measures and precautions, including masks and sanitizing desks after every use. The entire student body is anxiously awaiting Homecoming Week and school picture day,’’ Campbell said. “The senior class is working on turning in baby pictures and senior pictures for graduation. The senior class is also working on figuring out the class flower, motto, and song.’’
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is working on completing concessions for the year and is preparing for the State Convention in the spring.
Skills USA is working on fall pictures for members and also preparing for the State Convention in the spring.
Sherie Lundahl gave her first report as Teammates Director.
“I realize how much the program means to everyone,’’ she said. “We have more students interested in the program than we have adults to mentor. Eleven mentors exited the program which left a void. We have 76 students matched. Four are awaiting matches. It is not just about matching. It is about finding some type of need the adult can fill. If anyone knows of anyone interested in mentoring, please let me know. I completed eight new matches this week. Four students have transferred into the school system. Students are curious about the program.’’
New fifth graders are coming into the program next. Lundahl said eight have come in already for involvement in the program. She also said the Teammates areas in school have been refurbished.
Lundahl said she’s read everything she can about the Teammates program. The handbook is called a playbook due to the fact that the program was started by Coach Tom Osborne.
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