School Board approves new $12.6 million budget

HARTINGTON — The Hartington- Newcastle School Board is asking local property taxpayers for $6.33 million to help supplement its $12.61 million operating budget for the 2024-25 budget year.

The school is asking for a levy of .4401, which is five-and-a-half cents less than last year's levy.

The new budget is $596,739 more than last year’s budget, but is significantly lower than the 2022-23 budget of $15,384,358. A big portion of the newly completed $8.3 million school addition project was paid for in that year.

The addition is being paid for through the special building fund, which allowed the District to collect and save property tax funds over several years to pay for building projects.

The District is asking taxpayers for an additional $1.565 million for the special building fund in the new budget. Those funds will be used to make another payment on the building with three annual payments remaining after that.

Other items of note in the new budget include: The overall increase in tax asking is up less than one percent — .74 percent to be exact.

HNS School Board President Jason Dendinger said asking for such a small increase was the responsible thing to do.

'I think that shows the taxpayers we are trying to be responsible with their money, even though we are dealing with the increased cost of things, like everyone else,' he said.

Property valuations in the Hartington- Newcastle School District went up 13 percent over last year’s valuation.

Property in the district was valued at $1,268,850,009 in 2023, while the 2024 valuation is at $1,438,271,450.

The school is expected to pay a higher bill for its student lunch program, now that federal assistance for those programs has gone away.

Budget projections show HNS will pay out $312,300 for its nutrition program in the 2023-24 budget year. The new budget is asking for $118,200 more for the student lunch and breakfast program in the new budget years.

Supt. A.J. Johnson said the increase is due to an increase in wages and the cost of food.