Tax Levies

In 2005 the school district refunded some bonds that were eligible for refinancing. What that means is that they could be refinanced at a lower interest rate and the term of the bonds could be shortened so that they could be fully paid off in February of 2011. That action resulted in a tax reduction of $527,403 (about $45 per $100,000 of tax value) or 9.74%, in the amount of taxes needed to pay principal and interest on the bonds and was reflected on the school portion of property tax bills for the current tax year, 2011.

This reduction weighed heavily in the school board's decision to set $990 per pupil as an amount that taxpayers might support for the operating levy that is on the ballot November 8. In addition, the $990 per pupil amount was what made sense in terms of funding the school district into the future.

At the September school board meeting the board adopted the preliminary tax levy for taxes payable in 2012. That action will decrease the school share of property taxes  by $264,183 or 5.41%.

The school district portion of property taxes will have decreased a total of $791,586 or 15.51% for tax years 2011 and 2012.

The school board is very sensitive to the tax impact of the proposed operating levy. The board is also sensitive to the fact that Delano School District is a low spending school district while maintaining high academic achievement. Maintaining current operations is the goal.

Remember to vote on November 8.