Parkland Tax Hike Won't Go Over 2.1%

If the Parkland School District raises taxes this year, it won't be more than 2.1 percent.

The school board voted Wednesday night to opt out of the state's accelerated budget process, essentially locking Parkland into a 2.1 percent—or lower—tax increase.

It's the first time in at least three years that Parkland has not sought preliminary approval to go beyond the indexed tax hike.

A 2.1 percent tax increase would raise the school property tax bill on a home with an assessed value of $200,000 by $58 a year.

The board voted after hearing from revenue projections from John Vignone, the district's director of budget administration.

As he did last year, Vignone told the board he was concerned about uncertainties in the next budget, particularly in state and federal funding.

Parkland will get no new money from the state this year, “and we hope it doesn’t go in the different direction," Vignone said. 

The district's special ed funding has stayed flat for the last five years. 

 "Five years of no increase is really a decrease," Superintendent Richard Sniscak noted, since the associated costs have gone up.

The board is scheduled to adopt a proposed budget May 20. There is a budget seminar scheduled for April 25.