November 29, 2021
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Tax rate expected to decrease on Princeton Elementary portion of tax bills

Property value growth allows school district to ask for more money, reduce tax rate

By Becky Kramer

Logan Junior High School in Princeton. (BCR File Photo)

The Princeton Elementary District is asking for more than $300,000 in its tax levy than the previous year, but thanks to assessed property values increasing, it also expects it tax rate to decrease by 2.25 cents.

The school approved its tentative tax levy Monday.

Superintendent J.D. Orwig told the board during Monday night’s meeting the amount is subject to change depending on things such as senior citizen exemptions and homestead exemptions.

Orwig told the board one of the most important things a board does is approve the tax levy.

“We are asking taxpayers for tax money to fund our school,” Orwig said. “The good news is that we will have more tax money to utilize in the district this year.”

The final tax levy will be approved at December’s meeting. Orwig does not anticipate any changes in the tentative levy.

“The taxpayers need to know that even though the PES tax rate is decreasing by 2.25 cents, taxes may still go up because the EAV is going up,” Orwig said.

COVID-19 cases

At last month’s board meeting Orwig reported there had not been any positive COVIID-19 cases in 27 days but during the past few weeks positive cases have increased.

“The increases could possibly be from the movement of extracurricular activities from outside venues to inside venues as we transition to winter sports,” Orwig said.

In other news:

  • Board members reported on the sessions they attended during the Illinois Association of School Board conference this past weekend.
  • The girl’s basketball teams were recognized. 26 girls participated on the seventh and eighth grade teams with the seventh grade team finishing third in the conference and the eighth grade team finishing as conference champions with a 14-0 record.
  • The board approved the hiring of Alexis Mall as a paraprofessional at Jefferson School.
  • The board approved with regret the resignation of Justin Fundell as a paraprofessional at Lincoln School.
  • Maternity leaves were approved for Jacqueline Barnes, paraprofessional at Logan, and Mia Ochoa, a teacher at Jefferson School.
  • The next meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, in the Logan Media Center, 302 W. Central Ave.