New School Buildings in Ames Will Cost You Nothing, Really

Even if voters approve a to repair and replace five elementary schools, the tax rate for the school district will be less in the next fiscal year, according to a draft budget that the Board will review at its regular board meeting 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The document prepared by Karen Shimp, the CFO for the school district, said the proposed tax levy rate is $14.48 per $1,000 assessed valuation, compared to $14.52 per $1,000 assessed valuation in this current year. She plans to asked the board on Monday to set a public hearing on the budget for April 9.

That means a zero tax increase for most property owners, so long as their property's value remains the same.

The impact of a $55 million general obligation bond is about $1.13 per $1,000 assessed valuation, but the school's task asking is going down in the general operating fund due to a decline in certified enrollment of 55 students, so the combined levy won't change much.

“The ability to build facilities can be so far different from the ability to operate on day-to-day basis. That is the beauty of school finance,” Shimp said.

School districts receive funds for the operating budget based on student enrollment. Since less kids were counted this fall, the district will have less money to spend educating those students and pay teachers next fall. Shimp said the general operating fund will have about $1.1 million less in it, but that number won't be final until after negotiations with the district's employees. The tax levy will remain the same since it's based on student numbers.

While voters will be asked to go to the polls April 3, school board members will deal with loses in the general budget in May.

The debt service budgets and general operating budgets are separate funds.

Shimp said School Board Superintendent Tim Taylor likes to say that the district drives a VW in the general operating budget and a Cadillac in capital improvements and debt service budgets.