LITCHFIELD -- The Litchfield School Board decided Monday that a Truth-in-Taxation public hearing will be held Dec. 10 in response to the $2.8 million levy that was certified for 2008.
According to the figures presented by Superintendent Bill Wold and Business Manager Todd Swanson, the 2008 levy of $2,822,514.89 will be $115,204.90 more than 2007, equaling a 4.25 percent increase in levy.
"We routinely (hold Truth-in-Taxation hearings) even if we are under 4 percent," Wold said. "This is somewhat of a typical percentage for us."
Wold cited the changing state formula for levies as part of the reason for the increase. He said the "true test" for district taxpayers is what people will see in their tax statements involving school taxes. He said they should compare them to last year's statement to see how minimal the change individual statements will show.
Wold said the district did not certify a maximum levy. The district stayed under the maximum in a couple areas like health and safety. Wold said the district had done a health and safety project several years ago with Lake Ripley Elementary and would be "under-levying" (not asking for the maximum levy amount) that over time.
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To follow the 2008 levy, Wold said the board has discussed the introduction of a possible referendum in November 2008 to seek voter approval of a levy increase. Wold said the district will be watching the referendum efforts of the Dassel-Cokato and ACGC school districts for any valuable information before deciding on setting a referendum in 2008.
Wold also presented news of a sports-related honor during the board meeting Monday.
Wold said that Optimist Park, the baseball stadium used by Litchfield High School and local baseball programs, was named the 2007 High School Baseball Field of the Year by the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association.
"It's just one of those things where people coming into town have noticed the baseball facility and given it this award and we're proud of that," Wold said.
Wold said the association chooses ballparks for the award that are more "community-based fields" and are maintained by the local school district and local baseball programs.
Optimist Park is named after the Litchfield town baseball team of the 1950s called The Optimists. Wold said the honor links the district's ball field with other prestigious ballparks from Waseca, Fairfax, Chaska, Red Wing, Hutchinson and Dassel-Cokato.
