Passage of renewal on Nov. 7 means
lower property taxes starting Jan. 1
The Cloverleaf financial story has been one of “promises made, promises kept.” This story started in 2014 with a promise to Cloverleaf taxpayers not to go on the ballot to seek new revenue until at least 2020. That successful combination levy (a combination of earned income and property tax) rescued our district from fiscal emergency. As we write the next chapter of this story in 2023, we have stayed true to our 2014 promise. Not only have we extended that promise, but we lowered our collection of the property tax amount on our 2020 permanent improvement levy renewal, as well as lowered an earned income tax, as a result of the successful passage of our 2023 emergency levy renewal.
Now that 10-year levy from 2014 is up for renewal. With passage of this renewal on Nov. 7, we will be in a long-term financial position not to come back to our voters for any new levies until at least 2030! Additionally, the Board of Education approved a resolution to reduce collection of the property tax portion of this levy by 0.45 mills with the renewal’s successful passage. The lower collection amount would begin Jan. 1, 2024. The implication is that renewing the levy in November will result in a lower tax rate in calendar year 2024 than if the renewal doesn’t pass.
I understand school funding is complicated. A property tax decrease on the combination levy starting Jan. 1 and no new revenue until at least 2030 is the story of this levy renewal. In the end, we will have constructed an elementary school, a grades 6-12 middle school / high school building, new baseball / softball facility, board / maintenance offices, and renovated a stadium – all without a bond issue or new operations levy. With renewal of the Cloverleaf combination levy this November, our taxpayers will see a property tax decrease and the board will not come back to voters for new revenue until at least 2030! With 10 years of fulfilled promises, I will let Cloverleaf’s record of “promises made, promises kept” stand on its own.
It’s a great day to be a Colt!
Sincerely,
Daryl Kubilus Jr., Ed.D.
Superintendent