Patrons of the Atlantic Community School District will see a reduction in the tax asking for FY2018-19. Superintendent Steve Barber told KJAN News the rate, set to be published this week, will be reduced by about 70-cents per thousand dollars valuation. The rate went down to $15.08, as compared to $15.778 last year. Barber said the adjustment is due to some corrections. He said “A few years back, the board was faced with a cash shortage situation. And over the last two-or three-years they’ve corrected that and our cash position is healthier, and therefore we’re able to lower the rate.

Barber says the Board will continue to look at the cash balance and make the best decisions to keep the balance in place while providing every opportunity for the kids to be successful and responsible to the taxpayers. Prior to the Board’s work session Monday night, the proposed tax rating was at $15.50 per $1,000, but a reduction in one of the funds made that rate unnecessary. He said there Management Fund didn’t need as much as listed on the original computation form, so they lowered the amount in that fund from $587,000 to $400,000, which reduced the levy by about .41/$1,000.

Public hearings on the 2018-19 School Calendar and 2018-19 Certified Budget will be held April 11^th at 5:30- and 5:45-p.m. Respectively, in the Atlantic High School Media Center.