Taxy Levy decreased for MV-BT School District

Taxpayers in the Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III School District will see a decrease in their property tax bills following a vote on Thursday, Aug. 14.

 

During the annual tax rate hearing that began the meeting, Superintendent Lanna Tharp explained that last year's revenue was $2,962.947. The district had a six percent increase in assessed valuation from last year across the three counties that the district covers. Tharp's recommendation to the board was to set the tax rate at $3.6187 per $100 of assessed valuation, a decrease from last year's rate of $3.6931.

 

The floor was open to public comment, and being none, the regular meeting began. The board voted to set the tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year at the recommended $3.6187, which essentially means tax payers will pay less taxes this year.

 

In old business, the board decided that a 1994 K3500 will go up for bids, as the vehicle would take more money to fix than what it's worth.

 

Alongside school districts statewide, MVBT must adopt policies consistent with new state laws banning cell phones, standardizing security protocols, and allowing for the inclusion of homeschool students in extracurricular activities. 

 

Board member Dr. Orchard requested to add in private and parochial schools to the new policy update that prohibits exclusion of homeschool or FPE (Family Paced Education) students from participation in the district in which they reside. The request was approved, and effective immediately, private-and-parochial-school pupils, as well as homeschoolers, may participate in all activities. 

 

In other new business, there was an individual vote approving a payment to individuals who are related to board members. A payment to Brown's was approved, with board member Dr. Mikael Orchard abstaining.

The salary protocol was amended to add $150 stipend for staff participating in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training, effective immediately.

 

Policy updates included BBBA, board member qualifications; EHBA, student use of personal electronic devices for instructional purposes; IGBI, home schooling and other educational options; IGCD, virtual courses; IGCDA, full-time MOCAP virtual courses; IGD, district-sponsored extracurricular activities and groups; IGDAA, resident participant student involvement in activities and events; and JFCD, student use of personal communication devices.