The Lakeland Union High School Board on Monday certified the 2016 property tax levy at $10,768,195. For district property owners, the tax rate to support the high school will be $1.88 per $1,000 of assessed valuation – exactly in line with the number adopted at the annual meeting. It’s also four cents less than the prior year’s tax rate.
Director of Business Services Greg Kopp said student enrollment dipped to 688 from last year’s tally of 699. That reduced the property tax the district could levy for operations by nearly $364,000. The total tax levy of $10.76 million is $208,962 less than last year. The budgeted operating revenues of $14 million are $400,000 less than last year due primarily to reductions in the revenue limit calculation. Operating expenses are $100,000 greater than last year.
In order to help balance the budget, a few staffing reductions were made, including 1.0 full time equivalency (FTE) math teacher and a 0.5 FTE reduction in the Spanish teacher position. “Good work on your part, (District Administrator/Principal) Jim (Bouche) and Greg,” said Board President Tom Gabert on their budget work, which included dealing with the revenue reductions and the Act 32 energy-conservation measures.
In other news, Bouche announced that Brig. Gen. Joane Mathews, formerly of Lac du Flambeau, would be the keynote speaker at the school’s Veterans Day program on Friday, Nov. 11. She made history as the first female general in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. She is a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. She is a graduate of Lakeland Union High School.
The board in other actions approved the recommendation for the upcoming winter sports season coaching staff for the upcoming winter sports staff. Related action included acceptance of the resignation of Ginna Dalton, JV2 basketball coach, and the employment of Ryan Heath as assistant wrestling coach at a rate of pay of $1,292. The board appointed district secretary Lisa Kennedy as elections clerk for the Nov. 8 election.
