School tax hearing set for Monday; Parido wants lower rate
Published 12:42 pm Friday, August 21, 2020
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Board member Gordon Parido wants the Clark County Board of Education to consider choosing the compensating rate on property taxes this year rather than the usual 4 percent.
The compensating rate is the rate that would bring in the same amount of revenue as the year before. The other rate is not actually a 4 percent increase in the rate but an increase that would bring in 4 percent more revenue than the year before.
The board will consider his recommendation, along with others, at a special called meeting following a public hearing on the tax rate Monday night.
At the last board meeting, on Aug. 17, Parido suggested that the board consider the compensating rate of 62.7 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for both real estate and personal property, not only because people have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, but also because with schools being closed, the district is saving money on some expenses, such as fuel and food.
The 4 percent revenue increase would be a rate of 65.2 cents per $100.
The board could, however, consider any number less than 4 percent without the tax rate being subject to a recall.
The compensating rate would bring in an estimated $18.3 million, and the 4 percent revenue increase would bring in an estimated $19 million.
The district has school resource officers who aren’t protecting anybody while the buildings are empty, and cafeteria workers who aren’t feeding kids, he mentioned.
“We’re in a hard time right now,” Parido said.
It would also mean less money during uncertain times, but he suggested the district could tighten its belt a little.
“I’m no stranger to how to run things on a shoestring,” the former principal said.
Parido had amended the agenda to be able to discuss the compensating rate at the Aug. 17 meeting.
Two other board members, William Taulbee and Scott Hisle, wanted to see how much revenue the different options would bring in and get more input.
“I think we should table this until the next meeting so we can hear from the public,” Taulbee said.
All board members, including Parido, voted to do that.
The meeting till take place at the Central Office building, 1600 W. Lexington Ave., with the hearing scheduled at 6:30 p.m. and the special called meeting afterward to consider the tax proposal to begin at 6:45 p.m.
Social distancing guidelines will be observed, allowing for 10 people in the meeting room and 10 more in an overflow room.