Jackson school district to keep tax rate the same

The Jackson School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to keep the district's tax rate stable at $3.80 per $100 of assessed valuation for the 2015-2016 school year, marking 10 years since the district has adjusted its rate, officials said.

The board approved the rate after a public hearing. The tax rates are set to produce the revenue from the property tax required by the budget for the fiscal year, beginning July 1.

Wade Bartels, associate superintendent of finance and business operations, said the district's adjusted assessed valuation increased by 5.6 percent this year to $466,789,058. Last year's assessed valuation was $441,891,774.

The amount to be levied in the incidental fund is $2.9554, according to the district, and $0.3546 will be levied in the debt service fund. The remainder of the tax rate will be levied in the capital projects fund at $0.49.

After the meeting, Merideth Pobst, director of communications and the foundation, said she wanted to remind community members about an open house at the district's new East Elementary School at 455 N. Lacey St.

The public can tour the 105,000-square-foot building from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 13, and there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Pobst said.

The school for early childhood and kindergarten through fifth-grade students opened this month and was financed with a $16 million bond issue approved by voters in April 2012.

Superintendent John Link said since classes began, the school has worked out kinks in its pickup and drop-off routines.

"I appreciate the parents being patient with us as we work through the system," he said. "I think at this point and time, we feel like everything is running real smooth, and we're looking around at all of our buildings and making sure our pickup and drop-off is as safe as possible."

klamb@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3639

Pertinent address:

614 E. Adams St., Jackson, Mo.