Holley BOE approves school budget with 1.5% tax increase for 2023-24

HOLLEY – The Board of Education approved a proposed $28,920,000 school budget for 2023-24 that would increase property taxes by 1.49 percent.

The budget goes to a public vote on May 16 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the foyer of the junior-senior high school.

The tax levy increase is under the district’s allowable tax cap of 3.79 percent, said Sharon Zacher, Holley’s assistant superintendent for business.

The levy would increase by 1.49 percent or $115,034 to $7,835,466. That is the smallest increase since taxes were increased by 1.35 percent in 2017-18. The following years the tax levy increase was 2.0 percent in 2018-19, 2.5 percent in 2019-20, and then 1.95 percent for each of three years from 2020-21 to 2022-23.

The budget shows a 7.81 percent spending increase or by $1,938,000 – up from the $26,982,000 in the current school year.

The increase is driven by inflation and contractual agreements, Zacher said on Monday while going over the budget during the Board of Education meeting.

Holley would get a big boost in Foundation Aid from the state – 15.99 percent or $1,869,196 more, from $11,623,776 to $13,492,972, based on the governor’s budget. The state budget remains at an impasse, nearly three weeks late. Zacher said the increase proposed by the governor makes up for some of the lagging aid from the state in recent years through Foundation Aid.

The district also is planning a capital outlay project that won’t exceed $100,000 with state aid covering up to 92.3 percent of the cost. The projects include middle/high school door replacement and hardware – roof access doors, custodial hall to gym vestibule fire doors, auditorium stage door going to the mezzanine, and fob access to the main office, counseling and library.

The ballot on May 16 will also include a proposition authorizing the district to spend up to $338,000 for two full-size buses and one smaller bus.

Another proposition will authorize Holley to collect $200,815 for Community Free Library – up from $194,966 in 2022-23.

There are also three candidates running for the Board of Education – Dan Cater, Trina Lorentz and Robin Silvis. The seats are currently filled by Silvis, the board president, and Andrea Newman.