By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
More funds will be available to enrich Juab School District schools this coming year but it will not cost the taxpayer above and beyond what it cost last year.
"If you look at the FY16 proposed rates," said Darin Clark, Juab School District Business Administrator, "you will see that the total rates set by the District actually decrease from .006808 to .006491."
However, even though the rate is decreasing, the increase in property values within the district is large enough that the district will generate more tax revenue.
"This increase in revenue is why the law requires that we publish a notice of a tax increase and hold a Truth-in-Taxation Hearing," said Clark.
The total property value times the rate equals the tax revenue.
The actual value in 2014, was $737 million x .006808 for $5.01 million; the proposed property value for 2015 is $791 million x .006491 equaling $5.13 million.
In the compare column (the theoretical rate from the tax notice, assumes the same total revenue as last year); $791 million x .006366 equals $5.01 million.
In order to further explain what he was discussing, Clark shared his tax notice as received from the county clerk/auditor with those in attendance.
"This may be more clear by looking at my Tax Notice," said Clark. "If you look at my notice and compare the Juab School District (JSD) taxes I actually paid last year (which I labeled with a circled 1) to the 2015 Proposed Taxes (which I labeled 3), you'll see that this tax decreases from $655.82 to $625.28."
But, the change in tax column says Clark's taxes are increasing by $12.04 (which he labeled 4).
"This is because, instead of comparing to what I actually paid, the comparison is to a theoretical amount that I would pay if the district collected the same dollars this year as we did last year (the amount labeled 2, or $613.24). Therefore, my theoretical tax increase is $12.04, or 2 percent, even though the actual amount I pay for these levies will decrease by $30.54."
He said to note that his property value did not change from last year to this year. The property tax on his property remained stagnant from 2014 to 2015.
"If a taxpayer's property value increases, the comparison will be slightly different," he said.
Clark said, to summarize: The rate set by the district school board (total Juab School District rate) is decreasing.
"If a taxpayer's assessed valuation did not change, their tax related to the JSD rate will decrease compared to what they paid last year," he said. "The district will increase total tax revenue by approximately $130,000 due to a significant increase in total taxable values in the district."
The increased revenue that Juab School District will realize from the district-wide increase in property valuation, combined with other funding sources, will be used to fund several important items needed in the district.
Of import, he said, were additional teaching positions at Mona and Red Cliffs Elementary schools.
"We will be able to fund a full time metals CTE (Career and Technical Education) teacher at Juab High School and a full time consumer science CTE teacher at both Juab High and Juab Junior High," said Clark.
Another item that the district will now be able to add, because of the available funds, will be a full time Juab School District elementary counselor.
"We will also be able to fund various other increases in programs," said Clark.
If any district patrons have any questions, Clark will be pleased to answer them if the person contacts him at the district office.
