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Clarkdale-Jerome School M&O budget $2.6 million


Assessed values dropped, tax rates will increase

 7/10/2012 2:31:00 PM

 By Philip Wright

 CLARKDALE - The maintenance and operation budget for Clarkdale-Jerome School will increase to more than $2.6 million for fiscal year 2013 from $2.5 million for 2012.

"Teachers and staff members were all able to receive a step pay increase for the upcoming year," said Superintendent Kathleen Fleenor. "All salaries have been frozen for the past three years until this year. This step increase is possible due to an increase in student enrollment, which is about the only way districts can receive increased funding from the state."

Fleenor said the percent of increase for teachers is 3.9 percent, and the increase for staff is 3.6 percent. The administration increase was 4 percent.

Voters approved an override renewal for the district in November. That allows the district to operate on full funding.

"Last year we were functioning on 2/3 of the override due to state changes as to when override elections could be held," Fleenor explained.

"The only capital improvements we have is that the school is being painted," Fleenor said.

The state has reduced the district's soft capital by $63,698. Unrestricted capital will have an overall increase of $25,271, according to Fleenor.

Fleenor said there will be an increase in property taxes for district residents.

"We can't estimate yet on what a homeowner will pay due to rebates," she said. "We are waiting to hear from the county."

Assessed values for the district have dropped by 12 percent.

"Funding for education has been decreased by the Arizona Legislature," Fleenor said. "Therefore homeowners will be making up the difference of the lack of funding by the legislature."

She said the legislature doesn't want to raise taxes, but by lack of funding for education, they have in fact raised taxes.

The public hearing on the district budget took place July 10.


 

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