Valuation decrease forces School Bd. to raise tax levy

HARTINGTON — Hartington-Newcastle School Board members voted Monday to raise the tax levy by 2.5 cents.

The HNS School Board approved a budget which asks taxpayers for $5,342,580 in property taxes to fund the school. A portion of these funds, $303,030 are being allocated to the school’s building fund.

In order to get the funds to operate the school, district taxpayers will have to pay 47.6 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation. This is up from the 2018-19 tax asking of $4,896,081. District taxpayers paid 44.9 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation last year.

The increase is due to two main factors school officials say — a $40.4 million decrease in valuation of property in the district and an increase in payroll.

“Payroll is always going to be our biggest expense,” School Board President Jason Dendinger said prior to Monday’s hearing. “Since payroll is always going to go up, we try to cut expenses in other areas.”

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