Tax rates are slightly lowered in Whitley Co. School District

Tax rates in the Whitley County school district will either be staying the same this coming year or decreasing slightly.

Whitley County Superintendent John Siler awarded Lloyd Carter the August Above and Beyond Award. Carter is the bus driver trainer at the Whitley County School District Bus Garage. He was nominated for the award by the Director of Transportation Bobby Blakely.

During its monthly meeting Thursday, the Whitley County Board of Education set the motor vehicle and watercraft tax rate was set at 55.20 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Superintendent John Siler noted that this is the same tax rate that has been in place for several years.

The board set the real estate tax rate at 42.4 cents per $100 of assessed value, and the personal property tax rate at 43.7 cents per $100 of assessed value.

“These rates would be a little less than last year,” Siler said.

Last year’s tax rates were 44.3 cents per $100 of assessed value for real estate, and 45.03 cents per $100 of assessed value for personal property.

“Also, we have some of the lowest rates in the state,” added Board Member Brenda Rose.

In other business Thursday, the board:

• Approved the elementary school dental program agreement with Elgin Children’s Foundation.The program works in conjunction with Dayspring Family Health to provide free dental screenings for all students preschool through the sixth grade. If the screenings show that a child needs additional dental work parents can transport the child to Daysprings for free treatment or the students can be transported by Daysprings there for their dental work with parental approval, said Deputy Superintendent Paula Rickett.
• Approved the Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Program Grant totaling $159,240. The program provides all elementary school students with a free fresh fruit or fresh vegetable snack after lunch each day.
• Presented Lloyd Carter with the August Above and Beyond Award. Carter is the bus driver trainer at the school district’s bus garage where he helps oversee the running of 60 school buses every day. He was nominated by Director of Transportation Bobby Blakley.
• Approved a federal work-study off-campus agreement that will allow University of the Cumberlands students to do their work study at the central office or at one of the schools in the district.
• Approved an agreement with Cintas Facilities Solutions to provide work uniform for mechanics at the bus garage.