NORFOLK - The Norfolk Public School District is easing the tax burden on residents a bit, while also allowing for some major projects in the coming fiscal year.
The Norfolk Public School Board Monday approved the 2016 budget on Monday. General fund expenditures are set at about $57.9 million, which is an increase over 2015. The total budget is up as well, almost doubling to $92.1 million. Despite those increases, the tax levy in 2016 will be set at $1.21, one cent lower than 2015.
School officials say the increased budget will allow them to address building, staffing and technological issues that they couldn't take care of during the recession.
“We had a lot of budget freezes in maintenance, curriculum, assessment and vehicles,” said NPS Associate Superintendent Bill Robinson. “So the last two or three years we've been playing a lot of catch-up. In the area of facilities we were at a stand-still for a number of years. This budget will give us an opportunity to address a lot of those needed areas.”
The district is taking advantage of a recent jump in property values to lower the levy. But they've also been managing their finances differently over the past few years, refinancing existing debt in a way district leaders say sets them up well for the future.
“The levy reduction is about debt reduction,” Robinson said. “I believe in that. By 2024, we will be a debt-free district. There are not a lot of districts that can say that.”
The levy decrease is the continuation of a recent trend for the Norfolk School District. Overall, the levy has gone down 11 cents over the last five years.
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