School board approves increase to Capital Local Levy tax rate
by Laura Haley
Contributing Writer
Aug 29, 2013 | 1335 views | 0 0 comments | 48 48 recommendations | email to a friend | print
The Grand County Board of Education voted unanimously to pass a 0.000072 percent tax increase to help raise money to be used for building projects within the district.

Grand County School Business Administrator Robert Farnsworth said the actual impact of the increase will be less than $16.06 per year on a home that is valued at $200,000 ­– the dollar figure originally noted in public announcements posted for the truth-in-taxation hearing. Farnsworth said the actual amount will be lower because while the Capital Local Levy tax increase will amount to $16.06 but tax rate for the school Basic Rate, which is set by the state, is being reduced. The resulting tax increase will be approximately $8 per year on a home valued at $200,000, he said.

The board budgeted for the tax increase with the intention of putting $200,000 each year into an account to be used specifically for building projects, such as new construction or renovations that district officials have said are needed at Grand County Middle School.

While exploring different sources of revenue to help pay for that work, the school board learned that the San Juan School District has been, for years, using increases in its Capital Local Levy fund to help pay for capital projects. The money is set aside each year so that it is available when new construction or renovations are needed.

“In an effort to meet the rising cost of improving and maintaining facilities, the Grand County Board of Education will develop a five-year facility maintenance plan using the current capital local levy revenue and create a Capital Development Fund,” Grand County School District Superintendent Scott Crane said in a written statement.

The school board held a truth-in-taxation hearing on Aug. 14 to take public comment on the proposed Capital Local Levy tax increase. However, no members of the public showed up to speak during the hearing.

“I think it would be worth noting that, aside from school district employees and the press, no one showed up to speak,” board member Beth Joseph said. She noted that school board members had received no phone calls or written correspondence regarding the increase.

Even with the tax increase, Farnsworth said the district still has one of the lowest tax rates in the state.
Share This Article |
similar stories

Grand County Library to celebrate 100th anniversary on Feb. 17 | 22 days ago by Robin Willscheidt-Johnson
Contributing Writer

School district hopes bond refinancing will again save taxpayers money | 8 days ago by Laura Haley
Contributing Writer

A brighter water outlook may be ahead for 2015 | 22 days ago by Jeff Richards
Contributing Writer

My View Comparing apples to oranges... | 1 day ago by Gene Ciarus

Care center reports significant financial improvement | 1 day 1 hr ago by Molly Marcello
Contributing Writer


Copyright 2013 The Times-Independent. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.