Pettisville School District Value Down $1.5 Million

Steve Switzer, Pettisville Local School District superintendent, told members of the school board the overall property valuation of the district fell the past year by just over $1.5 million.

Agricultural and residential values rose about $200,000, from $34.3 million to $34.5 million. But other property values fell, including major drops in public utility property and tangible personal property.

The total valuation of the school district, for property tax purposes for the 2006 tax year, payable 2007, was $43,231,065.

For the 2007-payable-2008 tax year, the figure is $41,726,989.

That's a drop of $1,504,076, or about 3.5%.

State policies are changing, Switzer said.

The property tax burden for schools is being shifted to individual taxpayers, away from business and industrial property.

"This shift is an attempt to remain competitive in attracting business when compared to surrounding states," Switzer said. "But it results in a smaller tax base."

As an example, Switzer said in tax year 1993, payable 1994, revenue from the public utility property tax made up about 23% of the Pettisville school district's total tax revenue.

For tax year 2007, payable 2008, that figure had declined to about 5.7%.

In other business, after a brief executive session, the board approved a pay increase for the position of education management information system coordinator.

After reviewing area pay rates for the position, the board increased the Pettisville pay rate by $2.20 per hour. The new pay rate of $15.89 per hour was approved with an effective date of Feb. 1.

At the original $13.69 rate, Switzer said the district ranked second from the bottom in EMIS coordinator pay.

Switzer said the board anticipates an additional increase for next year. With the two increases, Pettisville would move to the middle ranking among area districts surveyed.

Jackie Weirauch holds the EMIS coordinator position at Pettisville. She replaced Evelyn Rychener, who retired last year.

The board also attended a portion of the Pettisville FFA meeting, and John King, school board president, signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 16-23 FFA Week at Pettisville. The local FFA chapter has planned numerous activities to commemorate the week.

The next regular board meeting will be held Monday, March 10, 7 p.m. in the school library.- D. J. Neuenschwander