The Marion Center School Board factored a tax increase into its tentative budget passed at Monday night’s meeting.
The $24,603,684 tentative budget passed with a .75% millage increase, which would amount to an increase of about $8 – $12 for the average tax payer.
Business manager Richard Martini presented the board with four different options for the budget, the first being a balanced budget with no tax increase, with subsequent options factoring for increased millage rates. Reasons for the increase include making up roughly $41,000 in revenue lost to Clean & Green tax programs, and a foreseen reduction in subsidy funding from the State.
After motions for Options 1, 2, and 4 failed to pass, Option 3 passed 6-2-1 with Ron Fulton and Charles Beatty dissenting in favor of no tax increase, and Charles Glasser being absent.
Martini said the tentative budget will be available for public review in the district’s buildings and on its website in the coming days. A final budget will be approved on June 25th.
In other news, Indiana-based attorney Christopher Welch, who handles the W. A. McCreery Trust Fund, presented nearly $13,000 in total grants from the fund to various Marion Center programs and organizations.
