Board of Education approves 1/2 mill levy Continuation
By John Giffin (Contact)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
At the Emporia Public Schools Board of Education meeting Wednesday night, Emporia Public Schools board members unanimously approved 7-0 a resolution that would give them the authority to continue a one-half mill levy to span no more than five years for maintaining and operating an approved adult education program. This was the first continuation of the levy since Emporia Public Schools and Flint Hills Technical College split in 2004.
FHTC runs the adult education program located at 620 Constitution St.
Taxes Emporia Public Schools raise affect the property taxes of property owners inside the district boundaries and a mill is based on the total valuation of the district. One mill equals approximately $165,000. The total valuation of the Emporia Public Schools district dropped about $1,000 in 2011. The continuation of the one-half percent mill levy would raise approximately $82,500.
In order to get taxing authority, Emporia Public Schools must pass a resolution establishing the mill level it can levy. Before a resolution is passed, Emporia Public Schools must publish a notice of the resolution three consecutive weeks in The Emporia Gazette. After the final publication of the resolution, there is a protest period. Five percent of the qualified electors must sign a petition and file it within 90 days in order to raise a question on the next general election.
If the resolution goes unchallenged, the board of education has the authority to implement the levy for the 2012-2013 budget in August.
For capital outlay, Emporia Public Schools can seek a resolution for up to eight mills. Currently, Emporia Public Schools has the authority to levy four mills but is not levying any.
F The board of education passed an amendment to the real estate purchase agreement of the Lowther North Intermediate School building. The amendment changed the name of the buying group from Lowther Building Fund, Inc. to EHS Historic Building Group, LLC. The new buying group consists of a smaller number members of the original buying group.
F The 2011-2012 quarterly budget ending Dec. 31, 2011, was presented to the board of education Wednesday night. The General Fund shows a total of $17,489,145 left for the remaining half of the year.