“With the economy as it is, the board felt like it would be better for the community if it left the rate the same,” said Ballard Superintendent Casey Allen. “The state allows as much as a 4 percent increase without requiring a referendum, but the board members didn’t want to put any extra burden on taxpayers.”

Even with the rate remaining at 50.9 per $100 in assessed value for real and personal property, and 47.9 for motor vehicles, that will mean a slight revenue increase for this year, Allen said. The increase comes mostly from an increase in property valuation assessments, and some new and personal property.

The bulk of any new money will be used for instruction, with the rest going for cost of collections, building fund, transportation and maintenance of plant.