Apr 28, 2014 3 min read

JEFFERSON – Jefferson-Morgan School District received an exception from the state Department of Education to increase taxes this year in excess of the inflationary index established by the Taxpayers Relief Act.

Business manager Jennifer Foringer reported to the board Monday the district was granted the exception for additional costs associated with retirement contributions, which earlier were projected to increase about 4.9 percent this year.

The exception will allow the district to increase property taxes in excess of the index to generate an additional $91,000, which represents about three-quarters of a mill, Foringer said. She earlier estimated if the district were to increase taxes to what is allowed by the index, it would raise only about $90,000 in revenue.

Foringer said she only received word of the state’s decision Friday and would have to review the information in relation to the tentative budget the board approved in January.

In order for the district to increase taxes in excess of the index, it was required by the act to approve a tentative budget in January and either receive an exception from the state Department of Education or have the tax increase approved in a voter referendum.

The exceptions are only granted to districts facing additional costs as a result of retirement contributions, special education expenditures or to cover debt for school construction incurred prior to 2006, the date of the law.

The board discussed increases in expenditures that would require a tax increase exceeding the index, including retirement and salary increases, and also addressed renovations to the middle-senior high school.

Foringer also reported Monday the district is expected to see an increase in health insurance costs exceeding what was expected when the tentative budget was approved.

The district receives the insurance through an Intermediate 1 consortium. The increase in the premiums was earlier expected to be about 2 percent; it is now pegged at 4 percent, she said.

The district, however, can expect an increase in federal money. Superintendent Donna Furnier reported the district is expected to receive about a $71,000 increase in its allocation this year from the federal Title 1 program.

The district received reduced allocations from the program each year in the last few years, Furnier said. It receives about $125,000 a year. The program provides supplemental funds to pay for instruction to help students meet academic standards.

In other business, the board voted to beef up its security system by purchasing 14 new surveillance cameras and upgrading the video intercom system at the main entrance to the middle-senior high school.

The district currently has numerous cameras inside and outside the schools. The 14 new cameras will be installed outside the buildings and will help cover some of the “blind areas” not covered by existing cameras, board member Bob Mitchell said.

The district will purchase equipment through the state bidding program at a cost of $32,039.19.

Of that $25,000 will come from a Safe Schools Initiative Grant and the remainder from district funds.

The board ratified the action of the superintendent to hire Pebble Shorts as a personal care aide and Amanda Maskil as a personal care aide and licensed practical nurse.

It accepted the retirement of custodian Mary Beth Love and thanked her for 18 years of service with the district.

The board voted to rehire Mike Lesko as varsity head wrestling coach; Barry Mylan, Alex Evanoff and Cody Catalina as assistant wrestling coaches; and Ty Basinger as volunteer for the wrestling program.

The board also approved Ashley Knisley and Lori Gustovich as assistant girls basketball coaches.