The Homer-Center School Board approved the final General Fund and ICTC budgets for the following school year at tonight’s meeting.
The 2017-2018 General Fund Budget was approved in the amount of $16,760,607 with no tax increase. Additionally, the Board approved an updated ICTC budget in the amount of $6,284,710. Of the overall member districts’ contributions of $3,456,900, Homer Center’s share is $353,741, which is over a 5% increase compared to last year.
The Board also re-instituted an tax abatement plan for new development in the district. The plan would give 100% tax abatement on the assessed value of the property for three years on new properties. Vice President Gerald Bertig hopes the plan will attract development to the district:
“We hope that it provides them with some financial incentivisation and assistance to choose to come to the district here and realize that we welcome new development and value it, and wish to do what we can to foster it so that our tax base can increase again, which, in turn — down the road, in the long term — enables us to have a lower tax rate.”
Lastly, the Board granted tenure to three teachers. Congratulations to Emily Gates, Nicole Neal and Kara Gardner from your hometown radio stations!
