Carroll school board's goal: keep tax rate level as possible
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Carroll Superintendent John Sayers estimates that the 2008 school district tax rate will increase by two cents or less.

He commented on the school corporation's proposed 2008 budget at a regular school board meeting Aug. 21.

"The board tries to keep the tax rate as level as possible," he said.

The corporation's advertised budget totals $9,961,109. The two largest funds in the budget are the General Fund, $6,748,395, and Capital Projects fund, $1,575,089. The third largest fund is Debt Service, $642,674.

Sayers said the increase in these three budgets is 3.2 percent in the General Fund, 16 percent in Capital Projects, and 22 percent in Debt Service.

He said the Capital Projects and Debt Service are advertised high because of a facilities project the corporation is planning to do.

The state tax commissioners may or may not approve the project, and if they don't, the Department of Local Government Finance will not give the school corporation a rate in Debt Service.

"If they don't give us a rate in Debt Service, we have some funds built up in Capital Projects," he said.

Sayers said in a Comet interview Tuesday that the facilities project involves pipes at the high school - replacing the heating pipes (original to the building) and adding a second set of pipes for air conditioning.

Sayers further explained that the budget is advertised high and the assessed valuation is estimated low as a protection.

He said the advertised budget is up 12.5 percent from last year's advertised budget. He added that the submitted budget is typically cut down by the state. He said, based on the advertised budget, the tax rate would be about $1.80 (per $100 of assessed valuation), but he said the final rate probably will be closer to what it has been in past years, around $1.30 to $1.32.

Sayers said the budget is based on an assessed valuation of $280 million. He said the actual valuation could be closer to $330 million.

The proposed budget was advertised last week in the Comet and appears this week also.

A public hearing on the budget will be conducted at the Sept. 4 school board meeting, and the budget will be adopted at the Sept. 18 meeting.

Sayers announced the donation of a "fairly extensive" bug collection from Eli Lilly. The donation, including a display case, was accepted by teacher Melissa Keown on behalf of the Science Department.

The board approved entering into an advertising agreement with Coca Cola, whereby the company will be the exclusive supplier of soft drinks to the school corporation for a fiveyear term. In turn, Coca Cola will contribute money to the Athletic Department. Sayers said the contribution will be used toward new scoreboards. He said the company name will not appear on the scoreboards.

Sayers pointed out that other sponsorships toward the scoreboards would still be gladly accepted.

The superintendent said there are no major revisions to the corporation's Wellness Policy that was adopted last year. Because of that policy, Sayers said fried foods are no longer served in the cafeterias; candy sales during lunchtime at the high school have been discontinued; and parents are encouraged to bring healthy snacks when celebrating special occasions at school.

Sayers reported that preliminary enrollment figures show that the number of students in the corporation is down 7.5 from last year. He said the official count day, however, is Sept. 14.

The following coaching assignments were approved: Mike Hyman, fifth grade girls' basketball; Rob Kauffman and Tyler Sausaman, varsity track assistants; junior high track - Matt Benner, head coach; Amy Cottrell and John Luyster, assistants; Larry Henning, volunteer assistant; Barb Hickner, eighth grade girls' basketball; Taylor Fife, boys' tennis volunteer as sistant. Mike Miller was hired as athletic supervisor.

Resignations announced were: Celsie Myers, Title I aide, and Kelly Hillman, family and consumer sciences teacher.

Latrisha Sproul was hired as Title I aide, and Theresa Roberts and Laura Morris were hired as bus drivers.

Junior-senior high school principal Charles Huckstep announced that a certified athletic trainer, Brent Thomas, has been hired for home and away football games, boys' and girls' basketball home games, and for other designated days and events.

The following conference request was approved: Susan Briggs and Kathy Shuler will attend the Identification of High Ability Learners conference Aug. 31 in Fishers.

The next regular board meeting will be Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.