David Tramel, New Bloomfield R-3 School District superintendent, Thursday night asked individual board members to meet with him to help find additional sources of income for the district.
Tramel said other than a local tax levy increase, current prospects appear slim for more money to finance additional school spending next year.
Because of a drop in state tax collections, Tramel said he expects the Missouri General Assembly next year will not fully fund the state school aid Foundation Formula.
Tramel said it is true that state school aid this year was at the highest level ever achieved. But he said that was far short of the State Foundation formula that calls for big increases every year, something that has not occurred in any recent years.
He said to be able to provide a 3 percent salary increase and a 10 percent increase in group health insurance, the district needs an additional $137,219 this year.
Tramel showed the board a comparison of local tax rates of school districts in Central Missouri.
New Bloomfield's $4.34 school property tax levy already ranks high among other Central Missouri school districts and is 38 cents above the state average levy of $3.96.
Central Missouri schools with lower school tax levies than New Bloomfield's $4.34 levy are Chamois, $4.26; Hallsville, $4.24; Fayette, $4.23; Fulton, $4.19; Russellville, $4.10; North Callaway, $3.91; Jefferson City, $3.68; Wardsville, $3.66; Eugene, $3.65; Westphalia, $3.55; Linn, $3.41; and South Callaway, $2.75.
Central Missouri schools with higher school tax levies higher than New Bloomfield are Centralia, $4.36; Harrisburg, $4.49; Ashland, $4.99; Sturgeon, $5.07; and Columbia, $5.40.
Because of varying tax assessments on property values, Tramel said each 10-cent increase in the school tax levy in New Bloomfield would generate only $41,959 more each year, compared to $164,540 in Fulton; $1,189,394 in Jefferson City; $2,008,104 in Columbia; $49,081 in Russellville; $82,585 in North Callaway; $55,884 in Linn; and $59,470 in Eugene.