The Geneva City School District will ask voters this year for a 1 percent increase to the tax levy.
Tax levy cap law would have allowed the district to ask for an increase of up to 2 percent without super majority approval. This marks the lowest percent increase proposed since the tax levy cap came into law in 2011, and, in fact, that lowest in at least two decades, according to Geneva City School District records.
“We know this has been a difficult year for everyone,” said Superintendent Patricia Garcia. “The district and our Board of Education opted to propose an increase of only 1 percent to help offset the financial struggles we know many in our community have experienced since the pandemic began.”
The total budget would increase 1.84 percent, or $1,086,628 for a total of $60,127,333. Sixty-two percent of district revenue ($36,155,850) comes from state aid, with 37 percent ($21,440,483) coming from taxpayers. A further $1,695,000 in fund balance and reserves would be used to balance the budget under the current proposal.
“We had anticipated a larger funding gap based on the governor’s proposal of education aid, but we were relieved to see the legislature approve a budget that was friendlier to school districts,” said Garcia. “As such, we were able to propose a budget that is sensitive to both community and student needs.”
The district budget vote will be held Tuesday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in person, in the North Street School mini gym, 400 West North Street.
At that time, voters will also have the opportunity to vote in the school board election; there is one vacancy on the board, with three candidates running for the five-year term. Candidates are incumbent May Farnsworth, Holly Sweeney, and Randall Grenier.
The Geneva Public Library Budget and election will also be on the ballot.
More details are available online at www.genevacsd.org/budget.
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