Wait! You CAN do something. It's NOT too late. But you DO have to attend (and vote at) the Annual Elector's meeting on Monday October 12, 2009. 7:00 pm at the Sun Prairie High School.
Most people think their civic duties ends with voting in April and November (plus associated primaries). But THIS meeting is the ONE opportunity you have to DECIDE the mill rate. YOU can vote on how much the school district spends on its budget for 2009-10.
No MNF of interest. It costs you about 1.5-2 hours of time maximum.
WSJ article on Dane County tax increase
" Dane County property owners would see the biggest increase in their property taxes in more than a decade under the $490 million budget proposed by County Executive Kathleen Falk today. The budget calls for a property tax levy of $128.6 million, a 7.9 percent increase from 2009.--Wisconsin State Journal 10-1-09
During Falk's previous 12 budgets the highest percent increase had been 5.05 percent in 1998. That means the average Madison home valued at $245,000 would pay $625.83, a $38.07 increase from 2009. The previous highest increase on the average home was $25.68 in 2004.
Increasing for the first time in more than a decade was the property tax rate, which is determined based on the equalized value of all property in the county. The tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value is $2.55 up from $2.37 in 2009. Overall, the equalized value of property in Dane County grew a paltry 0.79 percent, the lowest in recent memory. "
So...the Sun Prairie Areas School District is reaching a 10-year high with its mill rate, and so is Dane County. At least the City of Sun Prairie alders are showing restraint by talking cuts and keeping the mill rate down. The school board could learn a lesson there.
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