JAMESTOWN – For the first time in four years, the Jamestown school board is looking at a tax increase for property owners. According to an article in today’s Jamestown Post-Journal, the school district is looking at a proposed increase in the tax levy of 1.31 percent for its 2014-15 budget. Officials say the increase is needed to help close a $600,000 budget gap for next year. The property tax hike would cover about a third of the spending gap.
The remaining two-thirds would mostly be through staff reductions, which would save the district just over $400,000. For the staff reductions, just one full-time position would be cut. The remaining positions would be retirements or part-time positions. The full-time position would be a certified occupational therapy assistant. The remaining full-time positions involve three elementary teacher retirements and one guidance councilor retirement.
The final preliminary budget would total $73,875,000, which is an increase of about $506,000 from the current school year.
School officials say some small adjustments could be made before the vote it finalized. The board is expected to act on the budget during its April 22 voting session. A public hearing on the spending proposal will take place beforehand.
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