By HOLLY WAGNER
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
The Quincy School Board voted 6-1 Wednesday to set the tax levy of about $30.62 million for 2009.
Board members also voted 6-1 to submit an estimated $16 million in building projects, most of which is life-safety work, to architects so they can prepare the documents to submit to the state. The board will vote on their work at a special meeting before submitting the projects for state approval.
Board President Melvin “Bud” Niekamp voted no on both proposals.
The projected 2009 tax rate is about $4, almost 1 1/2 cents lower than the district’s levy rate for 2008. The county clerk will set the exact tax rate after the equalized assessed valuation for the school district is finalized.
The district expects to collect $7 million for bond debt on taxes payable in 2010. Bond debt last year was about $3.5 million. The tax rate is almost unchanged because the district collected $3.8 million in IMRF for 2008, compared with $225,000 in 2009.
The bond debt does not include the $16 million in work the board proposes to have done next summer. Board and Building Committee members have questioned the necessity of doing so much work when the district’s financial picture is so dismal.
The district is $5.1 million in the red, according to an audit that was reported to the board Wednesday.
Business Manager Rich Royalty said it was too early to say if that deficit will lead to layoffs. The district has had to cut nearly $5 million in expenses and personnel during the past two years.
Most of the $16 million in work are life-safety projects that were identified by the Regional Office of Education, the State Fire Marshal and architects and engineers, and compiled in a list for approval by the state. Once approved, the district has 10 years to complete the projects.
“The district does not make that determination” whether the projects qualify as life-safety work, board counsel Dennis Gorman said. “(The state) is independent in their analysis. ... They make their own judgments.”
A year ago, bids for work came in below estimates, and Royalty said he expects that will happen with the current projects.
“Contractors are hungry for business. Also interest rates right now are low,” Royalty said. If bids come in lower than expected, the money must be spent on life-safety work.
The district was also awarded $8.1 million in Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, which allows it to borrow that money at an low interest rate for 14 years. The district has until June 30 to sell those bonds.
“It’s my intent to support this at this stage, but the ongoing questions ... about the impact on our out-year tax rate is what I’m concerned about,” board member Jeff Mays said. “As we get more information on that, that may change my position.”
Royalty said he believes the sale of those bonds will not impact the tax rate. About $1.3 million in bonds will be retired at the end of this fiscal year.
In other business, the board:
* Learned that Ellington School physical education teacher Ken Mansell received KHQA's "Teacher of the Month" award. Mansell organized a cupstacking tournament at Baldwin School that set several world records.
* Learned that the district raised $16,000 at a recent auction of surplus items. The district's share was $13,000, Superintendent Lonny Lemon said.
* Learned that the Transportation Department had raised more than $1,000 for its Make a Merry Christmas campaign at a recent jam session/concert at Turner Hall. Lemon and Niekamp supported their efforts by taking pies in the face at the event.
* Laid Section 2 of the revised Policy Manual on the table to be voted on for adoption next month.
-- hwagner@whig.com/221-3374
