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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:57 PM CST
Charleston school board to vote on increase in tax levy

By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON — A property tax levy that would bring the Charleston school district up to $488,000 more in revenue next year goes before the school board tonight.

The recommended levy is based on an increase of just less than 5 percent in the district’s property values, but that’s nearly the maximum possible because of the restrictions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. Also, the actual property values for the district for next year haven’t been determined yet, so the levy is always established based on an estimate.

Because of the PTELL limits, the district’s property tax revenues can’t increase more than the the rate of inflation, currently 4.1 percent. Setting the levy at the higher level would mean the district could receive additional revenue from new construction and other exemptions to PTELL’s restrictions.

District financial consultant David Kuetemeyer presented the board with estimates and figures for the proposed levy last month. A taxing body has to adopt its annual levy by December each year.

Other items on the agenda for tonight’s meeting include:

-- A report on the timeline for hiring a new principal and assistant principal for Charleston Middle School. Superintendent Jim Littleford said he thinks the board should be able to hire the principal in January and name the assistant principal the following month.

CMS is currently using interim administrators after former Principal Sandy Wilson and Assistant Principal Jerry Calandrilla left the district for other jobs earlier this year.

-- A vote to add another class section of early childhood special education at Ashmore Elementary School. Littleford said the school has space available for the additional section, and the new class would be put in place later if the board approves it.

-- A report on the development of the district’s Response to Intervention program, a new state requirement for schools to identify and provide academic help for students while they’re still in the early grades.

-- A report on the district’s energy conservation program, which Littleford said has now brought the district savings of about $1 million.

Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 348-5733.

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