Momentum Award celebrated
Riverside Board of Education members voted 4-0 at their Tuesday evening meeting in favor of a resolution that will provide for both future building needs and also drop taxpayers’ property tax rates in the upcoming years after the district’s bond issue comes off the books.
Treasurer Ronnie Fitchpatrick prepared the fiveyear plan that involves shifting 2.5 mills of inside millage from the district’s general fund over to the permanent improvement fund beginning in fiscal year 2020.
Board members approved this resolution for an “unvoted permanent improvement levy” since it involves shifting inside millage and does not require going to district voters for approval. Vice President Robert Bender was absent from the meeting.
Prior to the start of the regular Tuesday evening board meeting, the board hosted a public information session about the proposal, with no members of the public in attendance.
With the upcoming new funds for permanent improvements, the treasurer said Riverside would not renew its current permanent improvement levy that voters previously approved, which expires at the end of 2021. The permanent improvement fund can support a variety of purchases and investments, including textbooks, district building needs, technology and buses.
“With the bond issue coming to an end, we’ll be able to protect the investment of our school building and lower property tax rates at the same time,” Fitchpatrick said.
“The effective property tax rate would be reduced 9 percent over the next five years.
Read complete story in Wednesday’s Examiner.
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