Much of the Aug. 10 regular meeting for USD 410 Board of Education centered on an orientation of the 2015-16 budget for its three new members.
The seven-member board includes new members Jared Jost, Tim Kaufman and Jim Paulus.
Superintendent Steve Noble reviewed in detail the general, supplemental general and special revenue aspects of the budget.
The board will take action on the budget at a special meeting scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17.
The board is waiting to take action until then because publication of the budget must be posted for 10 days. It was published the week prior in the official newspaper.
Noble reminded the board it could approve a lower mill levy but not higher, than the amount published.
The $5.5 million budget has a mill levy of 65.222, which is up essentially five mills from the 2014-15 budget.
Last year?s budget, following the public vote for a 33 percent supplemental general fund authority, had resulted in a two-mill decrease from the previous year.
?We were able to lower it last year…,? Noble said about the mill levy. ?But loss of state aid has affected us.?
Board member Joe Sechrist asked about the impact of a five-mill increase on residential property taxes.
Board clerk Jerry Hinerman said a five-mill increase would mean an increase of $57.50 per year in property tax for a home with an assessed value of $100,000.
But the board doesn?t have go that high, Noble said about the mill increase. He recommended the board move more incrementally, closer to a 2.5 mill increase.
Sechrist reported a 5 percent increase to the local district for services rather than 7 percent as previously proposed for Marion County Special Education Cooperative.
The board took action on the following items:
? approved the resignation of Paul Jost as custodian at Hillsboro Elementary School.
? approved work agreements for Galen Obermeyer as HES custodian at $9 per hour; Demetrius Cox as at-risk aide at Hillsboro High School at $14 per hour; and Tania Sorensen as HES lunch supervisor at $9 per hour.
? approved extending the contract by 10 days for Jill Hein as student services coordinator.
? approved a supplemental contract for Glenn Ratzlaff to move from HHS boys? assistant basketball coach to Hillsboro Middle School head girls? basketball coach.
Noble reported that back-to-school events begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 17 for staff. Also, he announced the new HES playground will be dedicated at 6 p.m. Aug. 28 as part of a fundraising carnival.
Noble also reported that the board had contributed to a memorial fund on behalf of Lynn Penner with Hills?boro Community Founda?tion. Penner had served as USD 410 transportation and maintenance supervisor.
