The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, approved the language for a proposed Special Election ballot pertaining to a Voter-approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (V-PPEL) and combined Income Surtax. The election will be held Sept. 13^th, 2016. Information sessions are planned for district patrons, to further explain how the combined regular PPEL and Income Surtax will reduce the tax amount property owners pay on their assessed valuations, yet still maintain the 85-cent per thousand dollars the district receives from taxes.

Business Manager/Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast explained the Income Surtax cannot exceed 20-percent, but that it’s unlikely that it will never be that high.

Superintendent Mike Amstein says state law allows the district to use a combined property tax and income surtax for the PPEL, but the district hasn’t done that since 2012. Only property tax assessments are currently used to support the PPEL.Board Vice President Kristy Pellet reminded the Board and informed the public, that because there is a limit of 85-cents, “Even with that combination of Income Surtax and Property Tax, we can’t generate more than 85-cents per thousand (dollars of assessed valuation.)”

Mary Beth Fast said if the Income Surtax had been in-place for the current school year, it would have cut the property tax rate about 60-cents. Kristy Pellet said the combined PPEL and Income Tax Surtax would essentially make it fairer, because more people would contribute to the PPEL, not just property owners.

Fast told the Board the amount of the Income Surtax would be determined each year in March, when the District’s budget is being formulated.