Nebo School District spent the first part of its board meeting Wednesday night trying to soothe feathers ruffled by a tax increase included with recent property valuations.
Residents were upset with the increases and sought answers as to why the district seems to be getting a bigger chunk of their money.Nebo business administrator Errol Smith said the 4-mill increase comes from a May election, where voters overwhelmingly approved $30 million in bonds. The tax increases from the 4-mill levy will be used to repay the bonds. Taxes on a $100,000 home will rise about $54.
The district sold the bonds in June at very low interest rates, so they cost $237,750 less than if the bonds had been sold at last week's interest rates.
Resident Florence Hansen wasn't happy to see her taxes increase a total of $143.03. However, she was somewhat assuaged to learn that the increases were due either to the 4-mill increase or to changes the county, not the district, had made.
She accused the district, however, of railroading the bond election and of not properly informing residents of polling-place changes.
"It's time the average citizen stood up and was counted," Hansen said.
The bond money can only be used for purchasing school sites, constructing new buildings and renovating facilities, Smith said. To help pay teachers and buy supplies, Nebo voters approved a different tax-rate increase several years in the form of a voted leeway. The leeway was not changed by the bond-election vote.