200 Residents, One Large Yes for Shorewood District Tax Levy

Without a hitch Tuesday, more than 200 residents approved the Shorewood School District’s tax levy and budget for next year.

After school officials moved the meeting to the high school auditorium because of limited space in the library, citizens let out a loud "yeah," without delay or debate, in approval of an $18.21 million tax levy and $21.78 million budget, both slightly up from last year.

The vote comes after months of deliberation over the district's budget, and .

"The annual board meeting is really at the end of our budget process, which runs from November to October," Business Manager Mark Boehlke said.

However, officials will likely have to revisit the budget and reset the tax levy in mid-October, after the district's state aid become more clear, Boehlke said. The amount Shorewood receives in state aid is largely determined on the number of resident students enrolled in the district. The district plans to take a pupil count later this week.

Estimates have the tax levy increasing .07 percent, or $13,583, from last year. The district’s estimated tax rate would be $13.11 per $1,000 of assessed property, just a penny increase. That equates into an increase of $3 on next year’s taxes for a $300,000 home.

An assessment error made by Shorewood’s assessor, which could result in an artificial increase in the village’s tax levy, won’t affect the district’s levy or state aid, Boehlke said.

School Board salaries were also approved by residents, unchanged at $1,300 for the School Board president and $1,000 for other members.