Florida school district to decide on $16.1 million budget

Florida — Florida Free School District residents are looking at a $16,094,925 budget Tuesday, an increase in spending of 5.89 percent over last year’s budget. The tax levy, or amount raised by taxes, is $11.4 million, an increase of 5.69 percent over last year’s levy. This is the first time in eight years, according to Howard Cohen, Florida’s business assistant, that the increase in tax levy is less than the proposed increase in budget. The remainder of the funding comes from state and federal aid, proposed at $4,365,315 this year, and other sources including tuition and interest. What this means to Florida school district taxpayers is they would be paying approximately $151 per $1,000 of assessed value for school taxes. The final tax rate will not be determined until August. A home assessed at $40,000 would pay $6,040 in school taxes. Two Board of Education seats are open for three-year terms. With two candidates on the ballot - incumbent Daniel Codi and Karyn Meier — there is no contest. The programs section of the budget is the most costly at $11,892,100. This is increasing $741,100 over last year’s budget. The capital component is increasing $14,265 to $2,302,020. Capital covers all building and facilities costs within the district. The administrative function is costing $1,900,805, an increase of $139,560 over last year. If the budget is not passed by voters, a contingency budget must be passed by the board, requiring cutting $320,120 in spending. Under austerity, the budget will increase $574,805 or 3.78 percent. Taxpayers would pay $147 per $1,000 of assessed value under austerity; the tax bill for s a home valued at $40,000 would be $5,880. Voting will be at the S.S. Seward Institute on Main Street on Tuesday, May 15, from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.