Staff writer
Marion-Florence USD 408 board of education stayed true to its word Monday when it approved the 2008-09 budget with a mill levy of 46.154.
The vote was 4-0 with board members Keith Collett, Kathy Meierhoff, and Lyle Leppke not present.
The three were still attending an open house for the USD 408 sports and aquatics center.
When USD 408 patrons passed a bond election for school projects in April 2006, that rolled a paid-off bond over, superintendent Lee Leiker told voters the mill levy would remain constant.
During the 2006-07 school year the district’s mill levy was 46.162, and in the 2007-08 year it was 46.156.
The board also approved the supplemental general fund budget at $900,000.
Leiker said that number was higher than the actual number because state funds for Marion County Special Education Cooperative are deposited into the USD 408 budget.
The school then moves that money to MCSEC.
However, Leiker said the fund still contained enough money to satisfy the district.
The mill levy is what USD 408 taxpayers tend to pay attention to the most.
“The important thing is we’ve kept that mill rate right where [we] thought it would be,” Leiker said.
Marion High School teacher Roger Schwab, the only public person in attendance, said he was impressed with the budget.
“I actually think the budget looks good, but it’s tight,” he said. “Good luck guys.”