Action of the School Board Action of the School Board 12/08/14

Meeting Date:
Dec. 8, 2014

Board Chair
Tom Heidemann

ACTION

of the School School District
Board
Anoka-Hennepin

Truth in Taxation hearing

Michelle Vargas, chief financial officer, shared the annual “Truth in Taxation” presentation
outlining the district’s proposed property tax levy, which impacts Anoka-Hennepin School
District homeowners and businesses. The levy impacts taxes collected in 2015 to fund the
2015-16 school year. Taxpayers were welcome to ask questions and provide comments at
the end of the presentation.

Vice Chair

The local property tax levy is the second largest funding source for Anoka-Hennepin at
18.35 percent. The largest, however, is state aid at 69.29 percent. Remaining revenue comes
from federal aid, 4.21 percent, and miscellaneous local revenue and transfers at 8.15 percent.

Treasurer

The proposed tax levy for 2015-16 is $92,069,076, which is down $13,394 from the current
year. A few portions of the general fund levy increased, including referendum, equity,
reemployment insurance, health and safety, alternative facilities, and lease levy. This was
offset by a significant decrease in the debt service levy, resulting in minimal change in
the overall levy from the current year. Vargas explained the lower debt service levy was
possible because some school building bonds – similar to a mortgage – were paid off. An
increase was proposed in the alternative facilities levy, which covers costs of maintaining
school buildings. Other general fund increases were due to enrollment changes, inflation
and estimations. A detailed table can be found in the full presentation.

Marci Anderson

Bill Harvey

Clerk

Jeff Simon

Vargas gave examples of how the proposed tax levy would apply to different property
types. In each situation – residential, commercial/industrial, apartment, recreational residential, and agriculture – the district’s levy declined slightly. Additional factors, such as
property value and city and county levies impact a property’s final tax amount. This year,
the district’s tax levy will be categorized under the “other local levies” line item on property tax statements instead of both “voter-approved” and “other” because of some changes
in legislation.
The School Board was scheduled to take action on the proposed levy later in the meeting.

Director

William Fields

Recognitions

The School Board recognized the following students and staff:

Anti-bullying poster contest

Director

To be decided

ANOKA-HENNEPIN
SCHOOLS
A future without limit

Barry Scanlan, the district’s prevention and trauma response coordinator, presented the 10
winners of the 2014-15 Anti-Bullying Poster Contest. Each received a new Kindle Fire tablet
device, courtesy of event partner Horace Mann Companies. The theme of this year’s posters was “Speak up. Stop bullying.”
The winners:
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Kindergarten: Chloe Ruscher, Monroe Elementary School.
First grade: Annalee Anderson, Sand Creek Elementary School.
Second grade: Sophia Marrone, Crooked Lake Elementary School.
Third grade: Emma Lee, Johnsville Elementary School.
Fourth grade: Christine Pham, Dayton Elementary School.
Fifth grade: Aliceyn Remore, Oxbow Creek Elementary School.