School levy increases 1.9 percent, driver's education fees go up, enrollment is steady

Luverne School District will receive an additional $48,638 as a result of setting a 1.9-percent levy increase for 2016.
School Board members unanimously approved the final levy at their regular Dec. 17 meeting that included the annual Truth in Taxation hearing.
The hearing is required by school districts to discuss and receive public input on the preliminary levy and the current budget. No one from the public addressed the board.
The increase in the 2016 levy brings the district’s revenue from property taxes to just over $2.5 million for 2016.
The local amount represents 17 percent of the district’s $17.8 million budget. The rest of the district’s revenue comes from the state (73 percent) with 4 percent from the federal government and 6 percent from other sources.
The district’s budget reflects the results of a bond refund in 2014. The move to a lower interest rate resulted in a savings of  $140,000. About half that amount ($76,890) was allocated to this year’s levy.
“We could have put some of that toward last year’s levy but felt it was better we split it into two — ­ this year’s and next year’s levy,” said Marlene Mann, the district’s business manager.
Mann said voters approved building the current elementary school in the late 1990s. The last payment for this building will be in February 2018.
Mann also explained state officials use student enrollment to allocate monies to the district.
Luverne’s enrollment stayed constant in the last five years, she said. The lowest occurred in 2010 at 1,186 with the highest (1,199) occurring in 2012 and again in 2015.
Enrollment figures are weighted, called pupil units, in the state’s formula, Mann said. The formula changed in June 2015.
The change has students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at 1.0 pupil units. Previously pupil units ranged from 0.612 to 1.25. Grades 7-12 were lowered from 1.3 to the current 1.2 per pupil unit under the change.
In 2014 the state reinstated a 10-percent holdback of funding. Mann said as of June 30, 2015, the state owes $732,172. The amount is reflected in the district’s fund balance.
For 2014-15 the district spent $17.7 million, and for 2015-16 the district anticipates spending $18.4 million.
 
In other business, the board:
•supported increasing the student driver’s education program fee to $300. The increase reflects an instructor salary increase to $25 per hour for classroom and behind wheel instructors.
•approved Matt McClure and Todd Frankenhoff as volunteer boys’ hockey coaches.