Troy School Board approves tax levy
By Marianne Eisenbrandt Correspondent December 24, 2012 1:06PM
Updated: January 28, 2013 3:30PM
Troy School District will ask for $37,544,670 in local property taxes including $6,983,940 in debt service (bond) payments, through the district’s 2012 levy.
After a public hearing on Dec. 19, at which no one from the audience spoke, the Troy School Board approved the proposed levy.
Business Manager Diane Cooper said after the district receives the final equalized assessed valuation (EAV) and extension information from the Will County clerk, the levy will be adjusted in an effort to meet budgetary targets, while remaining fiscally responsible to district taxpayers.
Cooper said the board maintained the 2011 levy at the 2010 rate of $3.43 per $100 of EAV.
In other action, the board awarded R.L. Sohol General Contractors Inc. of Plainfield a bid in the amount of $1,775,700 for renovation and life safety work that will be done at Troy Shorewood Elementary School next summer.
The project includes fire protection and ceiling work, electrical distribution and power systems, electrical lighting controls, classroom lighting, a new fire alarm system, a gymnasium sound system, and the replacement of the HVAC system with high-efficiency mechanical units.
The project is the last of the renovation projects identified by Healy, Bender & Associates, the district architects, that were approved with the 2007 referendum.
Cooper said R.L. Sohol constructed the Troy Hofer Elementary School and has worked on other renovation projects for the district.
The board approved a recommendation from Superintendent Don White to engage the services of Educational Consultants & Research Associates (ECRA) to assist the district with student achievement analysis and strategic goal setting.
After the meeting, White said he was pleased that the board approved hiring ECRA.
“They provide comprehensive strategic planning facilitation and a suite of other services that can benefit the entire district,” he said.
The approved proposal includes a fee of $19,500 but will only be paid in full if the district needs assistance as proposed.
The services proposed include a student growth model analysis, a benchmark analysis of district achievement status against comparable districts across the state, and facilitation of district goal setting, objectives, and plans for implementation.
In another matter, the board bid farewell to Cooper, who has retired after serving as business manager for six years.
Board President Anthony Andreano commended Cooper on the job she did for the district.
“You gave us great service,” he said.
