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July 2, 2009

No tax hike in Wilmington

The Wilmington Area School Board approved an $18.3 million budget with no tax increase Monday night.

The vote was 8-0, with William Pitman absent.

The board also approved documentation to support the budget, including continuation of a $10 per capita tax, a $10 occupational privilege (local service) tax on $2,000 of income, an earned income tax of 1 percent with half going to the district, and a 1 percent realty transfer tax, with half going to the district.

Property tax millage remains at 12.3 mills, or $1.23 per $100 of assessed valuation in Lawrence County and 52.8 mills or $5.28 per $100 of assessed valuation in Mercer County.

One mill of tax generates $374,000 in Lawrence County and $12,000 in Mercer County.

Superintendent Dr. C. Joyce Nicksick said the proposed budget presented last month was trimmed by $316,000 by cutting estimated fuel costs and reducing the budgetary reserve and capital projects.

The budget was balanced, she added, using $1.8 million front the district�s fund balance surplus. About $5.2 million remains in the fund, including $3 million designated for the renovation project and money for health-care and retirement increases.

In the coming school year, Nicksick said, she will endeavor to control spending so the budget is not exceeded by monitoring daily supplies, reducing field trips and possibly other efforts.

�Our only other option is to raise taxes,� she said. �But I recommend holding the line with taxes.�

She said the district can do this because it has a significant fund balance, which she called the district�s �rainy day fund,� and �with the economy in its current shape, it is difficult to ask our residents to pay more taxes. We are fortunate to have the fund balance that we do.�

The board also approved the homestead/farmstead exclusion assessment reduction. This provides each homeowner and farm owner in the district a property tax credit of $162.47.

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