Despite cuts, school tax rate up slightly

By Larry Blaskey
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 5:56 PM MDT


Despite budget cuts, both the primary and secondary tax rates are expected to increase slightly, according to the budget report provided to the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board.


The board heard the report during a special meeting on Tuesday, June 22.

The primary rate, which helps pay for the day-to-day cost associated with operation of the district, will increase about 6 percent, from $4.8105 per $100 assessed valuation to $5.1000 per $100.

The secondary rate, which covers bonds for construction and capital, increased from $1.4346 to $1.5660 per $100 assessed value, or about 9 percent. The secondary rate is expected to dip a little lower next year following the retirement of additional bonds.

The increase in the primary rate may be due to the decreases in state funds the district is receiving.

The total budget is $19.685 million, of which $17,7 milliion is for the general maintenance and operation of district facilities.

The district budgeted nearly a $2 million drop in regular education costs. Most of those cuts are coming from School Administration, Central Services and Operation and Maintenance of Plant, all which were cut by more than 32 percent. Support Services –Instructional Staff was also cut by 24 percent. This budget item covers the laying off of teachers aides.

But payroll for classroom instruction went virtually untouched, with only a 1.9 percent drop.

Final approval of the budget will be held during the July 12 board meeting.

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    At least wrote on Jul 23, 2010 10:33 PM:

    " I am glad Rivera stepped down. I wish he would have done so with at least a comment over his short term. I hope the other two follow suit.
    Thank you.
    Now please issue a comment to your constitiuents,even if it has to be limited due to the pending civil suits. Your lack of comment has been very dissappointing considering your family's media experience.
    Either way: Thank you and god speed. "

    Critical wrote on Jul 22, 2010 8:29 PM:

    " The positions of teacher aide and teacher assistant are every bit as important as teachers and administrators. Every study ever made has proven that they are critical in the classroom and make a huge difference if the teacher is open to working as a team. "

    disgusted wrote on Jul 14, 2010 7:21 PM:

    " Why doesn't anyone, the board, the dispatch, or our elected officials inform us or update us on the status of the lawsuits. As soon as KGUN stopped covering there hasn't been a mention. They are still ongoing. The district is the defendant. It is news. Hoyack, Rivera, and Lopez still don't comment.
    It is a big deal. We are not getting quality applicants for the position and the dispatch won't say a thing. Step down Hoyack, Rivera, and Lopez and let the district get a fresh start. It is the least you could do.
    To the dispatch: You reallly are an embarrassment to the community. "

    TO SOLIDARITY wrote on Jul 11, 2010 12:23 AM:

    " The day Teacher Aides go to college and achieve the many years of education, testing and preparation as well the cost of this education they can complain until they are blue in the face as to what that teachers and administrators make. Get real a hospital orderly doesn't make what a nurse or doctor makes. There are many districts who have no TA's at all. The cost of their benefits is too much for the work that they do. As it is principals make far less than administrators in like districts. The responsibility that administrators have could NEVER be done by TA's. Although All work is valued for what it is the reality is teachers and administrators also work second jobs teaching at Cochise or teaching classes for ASU as well as trying to teach on line classes to make ends meet. Why? Because we have student loans to pay for our degrees as well as continuing to pay for tests to be qualified which is something TA's don't have to pay for. "

    Many of us want to know wrote on Jul 7, 2010 2:19 PM:

    " Most of the cuts are not from administration. There is an assistant principal at all the schools, I think. At one point the discussion was that the people that are doing their internships would be taking care of those positions. Is that happening? What about Learning Keys? It appears that they will be back with their extremely high cost. Is that necessary? That would have been a cut there. Hire some of the district's own people to do the same job they do. Most of them know how to do powerpoint presentations and the latest information in education. They live here and would have the time to work with the teachers and administrators to make sure that the suggestions are being implemented. Someone needs to put the people that aren't doing their jobs on improvement plans and get rid of them if they don't improve. They are taking tax payers money and not engaging students in the learning process or showing any gains in their student's learning. Perhaps a school needs to close now that the 100 years celebration is over. Also, why is there an administrator still in a position if he did what KGUN 9 investigated and found documentation that he did. Also, let's talk about the board members that still hold their positions and the wife that was still at the school as a volunteer. Nothing changed! Wake up! "

    Teacher Aide Solidarity wrote on Jul 1, 2010 5:46 AM:

    " How about putting a cap on new district administrator salaries at $75,000. This will bring back at least one teacher aide. Teacher aides already had it difficult enough with the salaries they were getting. Most of them had second jobs at Walmart and even third or fourth jobs housecleaning for people or selling Avon. Its not right that no one at the high school or other schools defended them. "

Write a Comment

Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. They review submitted comments periodically during the day for offensive or off-topic content before posting. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The Douglas Dispatch is not liable for messages from third parties.

DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
* Personal Information (phone numbers, addresses, etc.)

Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in douglasdispatch.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Douglas Dispatch. The Douglas Dispatch does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Douglas Dispatch spokespersons.

Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

(optional)
   









Contact Us

Email the Editor
530 11th Street (85607)
P.O. Drawer H
Douglas, AZ 85608
tel: 520.364.3424
fax: 520.364.6750