By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
As the budget season continues to draw nearer, those taxing entities that plan to collect more tax dollars than they did a year ago must announce their intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate. Monday night, USD 431 Superintendent Patrick Crowdis explained to the Hoisington Board of Education how some prior mistakes have been corrected, and now the district will likely exceed the revenue-neutral rate.
"Because of the mistakes that were made in the pre-populated information for the budget, I had us not exceeding revenue neutral," he said. "After the budget, and I adjusted the local option budget numbers, we did go ahead and exceed revenue neutral."
Crowdis said the proposed budget will assess 49.64 total mills, compared to 49.5 mills last year. By statute, districts can levy up to eight mills for capital outlay. USD 431 has been at approximately six mills in previous years but will increase to 7.729 mills next year. That should generate approximately $410,000 in capital outlay, compared to $310,000 last year.
"That is not a random number," Crowdis said. "That is the maximum number that I can go in capital outlay and bonds and interest, according to the mills I submitted to the county for revenue neutral."
Crowdis said the state usually contributes $0.55 for every dollar raised via capital outlay, but that number could be as high as $0.85 for every dollar this year. The Hoisington district is planning to hold its revenue-neutral hearing and budget hearing at its September meeting.
"If you do have people getting their postcards in the mail saying we're going to exceed the revenue-neutral rate, if they have questions or concerns, have them give me a call," Crowdis told the board. "I'm more than happy to sit down and talk with anybody about it."