Board approves raise in Clear Lake school tax rate

Residents of the Clear Lake School District will see the school’s portion of their tax bill rise 80-cents.  The School Board passed its 2017-18 budget unanimously at its April 12 meeting.

Under the budget the district’s tax rate will go from $9.59 in 2016-17 to $10.39 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

Superintendent Doug Gee said the board’s goal is to keep the tax rate level, however the district is in need of additional funds to compensate for a deficit in special education funding and overspending its cash reserves.  In January, Gee informed the Board it had overspent by $961,000 over the previous two years and is projected to overspend by another $352,000 in the current year.

Gee, who inherited the budget woes as the district’s new leader in 2016-17, said he believes the situation can be remedied.  He noted that one year ago the district’s debt service was paid off, which helped the tax rate drop from $10.78 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2015-16 to $9.59 last year.  The continued rise of taxable valuation in the community is also beneficial.

Although the tax rate will be going up in 2017-18, school district residents have paid more in recent years.  The school’s tax rate in 2012-13 was $12.92, some $3.53 higher than the new rate.  That level dropped steadily during the next four years.

CL School

Tax Rate

2012-13  $12.92

2013-14  $12.24

2014-15  $11.48

2015-16  $10.78

2016-17  $ 9.59

2017-18  $10.39