Tax rates for the Clinton County school district will remain unchanged, following action taken at a public hearing/meeting of the Clinton County Board of Education last Friday evening, August 26 with all board members present.

At the board’s regular meeting earlier in the month, the board had proposed to keep the tax rates unchanged from previous years. Superintendent Mickey McFall then set a public hearing to take comments on the proposed property and personal tax rates, as required by state statute.

McFall, at last week’s hearing, noted that the board was required to take public comments about the rates, the actual setting of the rates would be up to a board vote only. The tax rate is not subject to a recall vote by voters since the rates did not increase.

The hearing was scheduled a 5:45 p.m. last Friday and no one from the general public attended to make comments regarding the proposed rates. The board allowed a few minutes after the official start of the meeting to allow some time in case anyone did attend late.

When no one from the public appeared at the meeting to address the tax rates, a motion was made by Board Member Junior Cecil, seconded by Kevin Marcum, to set the tax levy for the 2011-12 school year at 38.4 cents per $100 on real estate and 38.4 cents per $100 on personal property, 53 cents per $100 on motor vehicle and watercraft, and three percent utility tax. All are the exact same as the past year’s rates. Cecil’s motion passed by unanimous vote.

The General Fund tax levied in fiscal year 2010-11 at 38.4 cents on real and personal property, produced revenue of $1,555,568.67. The proposed General Fund rate at the same 38.4 on each this year is expected to generate approximately $1,604,023.50. Of this amount, $175,936.12 is from new and personal property.

The compensating tax rate for 2012 is 37.9 cents each on real and personal property and is expected to produce $1,583.146.76.

The general areas to which revenue of $48,463.83 above 2011 revenue is to be allocated as follows: $33,924 instruction, $7,270 transportation, and $7,269 maintenance of plant.

Also at last week’s hearing/meeting, the board approved some claims and bills that had not been added on the monthly list at its earlier regular meeting held on August 8. A motion to approve the bills was made by Board Member Paula Key, seconded by Goldie Stonecipher and passed unanimously.

The next regular meeting of the school board is scheduled for Monday, September 12 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office and is open to the general public.