By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
NRHEG’s “Truth in Taxation” meeting was held just prior to the regularly scheduled Dec. 19 school board meeting. No members of the public were in attendance. District Business Manager Karla Christopherson observed that residential property values, and thus tax evaluations for homes across the district had risen by about 20%.
Christopherson proceeded to present a detailed, 30-minute report summarizing the distribution of local tax levies used to support the district. While significant portions of the district’s $11 million annual budget are covered by state aid and, especially during the time of Covid, federal money, roughly $2,500,000 is collected as local tax revenue.
Of that amount, slightly more than half comes from taxing residential property. The next largest contributors, about 30%, are commercial and industrial properties. Although farmland comprises more than 17% of the property value in the school district, farm owners pay less than 7% of the taxes because of a “school to ag” credit under which the state protects farmers by paying much more than half of their “share.”
An interesting element of Christopherson’s report is that, although the JWP and WEM school districts are comparable in size and services, a typical NRHEG residential taxpayer provides the school district with just short of $500 in tax support, while typical homeowners in the other two
districts pay nearly $800. Waseca district homeowners pay close to $900 in property taxes to support their schools.
As the truth in taxation session closed, the monthly school board meeting began with a visit from county commissioner Doug Christopherson, who explained that he felt it was important for governmental agencies to work cooperatively. “We appreciate you keeping us informed,” responded school board chair Rick Schultz.
Schultz also extended thanks to school board members Rich Mueller, JoAnn Maloney and Travis Routh, whose terms in office ended with the
Dec. 19 meeting. He expressed gratitude for their dedication and service, and promised “You will be called upon from time to time to help with projects and events.” Superintendent Michael Meihak also thanked the board members, saying that he deeply appreciates the collaborative approach taken by the entire board. Having seen “packed houses, heated conversations and mid-year resignations,” he feels blessed to work with board members whose focus is on service and the well-being of the school district.
School district principals David Bunn and Craig Kopetzki both reported well received music concerts– in Kopetzki’s case, so well received that future concerts will likely be divided into at least two performances to make seating in the school gymnasium less crowded.
Also announced during the meeting was the receipt, this month, of nearly $17,000 in donations, many of which were given in support of the state championship competition cheerleading team as the group plans its February trip to national competition in Florida. Meihak mentioned that these gifts bring the total amount of donations to NRHEG for 2022 to nearly $104,300.