Willmar, Minn., School Board to meet Monday for workshop, tax hearing
WILLMAR -- The Willmar School Board will conduct its annual Truth in Taxation hearing at 6 p.m. Monday in the board room on the first floor of the Willmar Education and Arts Center.
The board will also conduct a workshop session beginning at 4 p.m. Monday. The board will meet with teachers and administrators to discuss the elementary math curriculum and how it aligns with state standards.
The Truth in Taxation hearing is held to comply with Minnesota law. The law requires local governments to conduct the hearings to explain their budgets and tax levies to taxpayers and to listen to comments and questions about the levy.
An addition to the hearing this year will be an explanation of changes in the state's homestead credit system.
The total 2012 property tax levy for the Willmar schools will be $7.1 million, an increase of 3.5 percent.
The levy reflects the $498.49-per-pupil operating levy that was renewed by voters on Nov. 8.
School levies are highly regulated by the state, and the Minnesota Department of Education determines what will be levied for general operations, debt service and other funds. The only portions of the levy set locally are the voter-approved operating levies.
During the regular board meeting, the board will listen to public comments related to items on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. Those who want to comment on issues that are not on Monday's agenda may do so at the end of the meeting.
The board will adopt its 2012 property tax levy during its regular meeting. Also during the meeting, the board is due to report on a closed meeting it held in November to evaluate former volleyball coach Terrin DeBoer. The board later voted to terminate DeBoer's contract.
Board meetings are shown live on Willmar local cable access channel 18 and are recorded to be rerun later on channel 19. The meetings are conducted at the Willmar Education and Arts Center, 611 Fifth St. S.W.
