County schools to offset $650,000 loss of revenue with tax increase

In order to help combat a projected decrease in revenue from both state and federal sources in the coming year, the Union County School District Board of Trustees included a four percent ad valorem tax millage rate increase in its 2011-2012 budget.

The district’s financial officers projected a decrease of operational revenue from $21,163,601 this past year to $20,511,350.
The largest decrease can be found in the federal sources, from $3,692,595 last year to a proposed $2,819,650 for the new school year, due to the end of distribution of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The increase in ad valorem taxes requested would be 16 percent of the district’s revenue, or $3,208,406 - approximately a $40,000 increase, school officials say.
If the school district does not ask for the four percent increase, it would be receiving approximately $120,000 less in revenue than it did last year.
Ad valorem taxes are paid on homes, automobile tags, business facilities and equipment as well as rental property.