Holley Board of Education
adopts budget for 2006-07 school year

At its March 20 meeting, the Holley Board of Education adopted a $17,646,635 spending plan for the 2006-07 school year. The plan is $572,870 or 3.36 percent over the current budget of $17,073,765. Under the proposed plan, taxpayers would see a $.75 increase per $1,000 of assessed value, Therefore, a home valued at $100,000 would have a $75 increase in property taxes. This figure does not reflect any changes in the equalization rate.

"Basically, it is a rollover budget with the addition of three teachers to replace four retirees," said School Business Administrator Gene Mahaney.

When Holley residents go to the polls on May 16, they will be asked to vote on four propositions. The first is the proposed budget of $17,646,635. The second propositions authorizes the district to raise $83,983 to be used in support of the maintenance and operations of the Community Free Library.

The third proposition is to approve a $30,000 payment for the purchase of 44 acres of land located directly adjacent to the high school building. The cost of the land is included in the $.75 per $1,000 tax figure.

The final proposition is to approve the purchase of five school buses in the total amount of $400,000. Because the district had to abandon its bus replacement schedule years ago due to budget constraints, the bus purchase is proposed to recover from this and resume a normal bus purchasing schedule. The district would receive 80 percent state aid on the purchase leaving a local share of $80,000. With interest, the local share would be $89,600 to be paid over five years. The tax increase would be $.07 per thousand of assessed value, without any change in the equalization rate.

Any group that is interested in hearing a budget presentation may contact Cece Swanger, superintendent's secretary, at 638-6316 to schedule a time.

Holley residents will vote on the school budget on Tuesday, May 16 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the High School Foyer.

Submitted material

March 26, 2006