Edgar K-12 sets $1.7M tax levy

By Casey Krautkramer

The Edgar Board of Education last Wednesday voted to finalize the 2024-25 school district budget and set the tax levy at $1.71 million with a tax rate of $5.08 per $1,000 of property owned. This compares to the 2023-24 tax levy of $1.67 million with a tax rate of $6.24.

Superintendent Cari Guden said the school district paid off its 2011 referendum debt in Fund 39 in April.

“We no longer need to levy for the debt payment,” she said. “This means for 2024-25 there is no longer a tax levy for Fund 39. This reduces the overall tax levied to taxpayers. This decrease in tax levy does not affect (increase) the general operational budget, but it does decrease the tax burden on property owners.”

The district is receiving a declining enrollment exemption of $79,551 from the state for the 202425 budget.

District voters approved a five year, non-recurring operational referendum in April of 2022, which is set to conclude at the end of the 2026-27 school year.

Guden said the district has been able to balance its annual budget because it’s been able to exceed state revenue limits by $950,000 each of the five years in the operational referendum. “As we plan ahead with our budget, we anticipate returning to the community for another referendum in April of 2026 to support the 2027-28 school year,” she said.

Other business

■ Board members approved the following list of winter sports coaches: Zach Paul as varsity boys basketball head coach, Chris Trawicki as varsity boys basketball assistant coach, Mitch Skurzewski as junior varsity boys basketball coach, Keith Baumgartner as eighth grade boys basketball coach, Mark Shroeder as seventh grade boys basketball coach and Jon Streit as sixth grade boys basketball coach.

Nicolę Nowak was hired as varsity girls basketball head coach, Devin Cyan as volunteer varsity assistant girls basketball coach, Brandon Kaiser as junior varsity girls basketball coach, Ashley Schilling as eighth grade girls basketball coach, Holly Nowak as seventh grade girls basketball coach and Brad Hornung as sixth grade girls basketball coach.

Andrew Lukasko was hired as varsity wrestling head coach, Connor Handrick as junior varsity wrestling coach, Aaron Neiman as middle school wrestling coach and Mitch Mueller as middle/high school assistant wrestling coach.