USD 368 adds to capital outlay mill levy

By Catherine Odson, catherineodson@miconews.com

Paola USD 368 Board of Education members approved a two-mill increase for the district’s capital outlay budget at their meeting Monday night.

The increase will bring the total capital outlay mill levy to six for district residents. The two-mill increase is equal to a $2 property tax increase for each $1,000 of assessed — not total — valuation.

Superintendent Rod Allen first proposed the increase at a work session March 31 to support the district’s increased capital outlay needs. The capital outlay budget is used to pay for maintenance and equipment. While the money for those projects could come from the district’s general fund, that would limit the money that could be spent on teachers’ salaries and transportation, among other things, Allen said.

The district could possibly get by for a year or two without a capital outlay budget, board president Mike Yocum said, but it would be more troublesome in the long run.

“I can’t think how our district would operate without a capital outlay budget,” Yocum said. “… Our roofs would be leaking, and our students would carry umbrellas to school.”

The board members also approved the capital outlay list for the 2009 fiscal year. Projects will be addressed in order from the list as the budget allows, with $110,000 budgeted for technology and $540,000 for other items. Business manager Jimmy Hay estimated 10 technology and 65 other requests could be funded.

Paola’s capital outlay levy had hovered around four mills since at least the 1998-99 school year, according to district documents.

Spring Hill USD 230 and Osawatomie USD 367 did not have capital outlay mill levies this year. Louisburg USD 416’s was four mills.

The capital outlay mill levy can be set as high as eight mills, Allen previously said, although he did not propose going that high.

Voters could decide the final fate of the levy. District residents can file a petition signed by 10 percent of eligible voters to put the issue on a ballot.

In other business, the board members:

Approved republishing the 2007-08 budget to allow for additional state funding.

Approved the 2008-09 certified staff renewals.

Approved district fees for 2008-09, including materials fees for ag welding and cabinet-making classes. Meal prices did not increase, which was one item the board members looked at during their work session.

Approved bids for two building maintenance and repair projects. Board members awarded a $169,275 bid to G.K. Smith and Sons for the final phase of the Paola Middle School HVAC project and a $34,705 bid to KAW Roofing and Sheet Metal for labor for roof repairs to Paola High School and Hillsdale Elementary School.

Approved paying dues and the legal assistance fee for the Kansas Association of School Boards for 2008-2009 for a total cost of $11,592.