By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman and Finance Director Shane Hecox explained Wednesday that the district is going to have to file all of the information for an increase above the Revenue Neutral Rate.
"Our Revenue Neutral Rate, I believe for the General Fund was like, 19.25 mills," Hecox said. "We have to assess 20 mills, so we're definitely going to exceed that."
The 20 mill assessment is because that amount is required to be assessed by state statute as part of the school finance formula. Also, because of the new reporting requirements, it's a quick turnaround for the budget process.
"There are some very specific dates, the first one is July 20th," Couchman said. "We have to notify the county clerk of the tax rate for our new year. It's really just notifying them if we're going to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate. You've heard Shane say that we will be. What we give them, then, is the maximum that we would exceed for the district."
It's likely that there will be some play in the numbers, but just as is done every year, the school finance formula is heavily dependent on the exact number of students in the district, so the budget authority will be adjusted later in the year once those final numbers are in place.