CENTERBURG — It was 20 years ago when citizens in the Centerburg Local School District made a monetary investment into the middle/high school building along U.S. Route 36.
Now, superintendent Ryan Gallwitz says, it’s time to make another investment into the building and the entire district.
Putting a levy on the ballot has been discussed at previous board meetings, but Monday the Centerburg Board of Education decided to take the final step needed to place a 2.75-mill levy for permanent improvements districtwide.
The 2.75 mills for each $1 of taxable value levy would bring in an estimated $556,000 in the first year, according to the county auditor’s office. This amounts to $96 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value.
The levy is expected to be on the November general election ballot.
On what the permanent improvement fund levy could be used for, Gallwitz mentioned the need to repair parking lots, roof repairs on the administrative building (former high school), purchase of choir risers and school buses.
“Funds are needed to continue to properly maintain the investments they made years ago,” Gallwitz said.
Centerburg Treasure Lori Houck said the district finished the 2023 fiscal year at $300,000 in deficit spending. The deficit is partially due to the district purchasing school buses and other items that could be used under the guidelines of a permanent improvement fund levy.
The levy cannot be used for salary and or benefits — only to purchase items that last more than fives years. They monies can’t be used for general operating expenses of the district.
For context, the 1.5 mill bond that funded the current high school/middle school will expire this year.
