By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
WAKEENEY–The USD 208 Trego Community school district is one of eight area districts awarded funding from the extraordinary need state aid fund this week due to a decline in the valuation of oil and gas properties.
According to Superintendent George Griffith, USD 208 lost $108,000 due to reductions in Trego County property valuation for oil, and also lost another $28,000 for the district’s Capital Outlay and Bond and Interest Fund for last year. The 2015 assessed valuation for Trego County is down 28 percent, bringing the school district’s total loss to more than $262,000.
On Monday, the State Finance Council approved $217,000 for the Trego district, based in WaKeeney. Griffith said USD 208 is trying to avoid having to increase the mill levy to make up for those lost funds.
“We’re trying to balance out all of our funds and take the burden off our tax payers,” Griffith said. “We have a number of people that own their homes that are on fixed incomes and if I can help them out the best I can, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Griffith said originally they were looking to increase the mill levy 13.5 mills to maintain the district’s current levels but he said the extraordinary need state aid award could save at least six mills.
A total of 38 school districts had requested more than $15 million in emergency funds. Lawmakers allocated $12.3 million to the fund in March.
The State Finance Council, made up of Governor Sam Brownback and eight legislative leaders, granted $4 million to 22 districts that lost local revenue for the current school year because of declines in the valuation of oil and gas properties.
Eight area schools received extra aid because of the drop in oil and gas valuation. Plainville and Russell both received more than $400,000.
The Ness City, Western Plains, Dighton and Quinter schools are also among those that received funds due to a loss in oil and gas and property taxes.
Aid awarded due to loss of assessed valuation:
507-Satanta $ 436,648
270-Plainville 417,202
255-South Barber 242,313
303-Ness City 254,935
374-Sublette 345,275
216-Deerfield 187,899
106-Western Plains 118,890
217-Rolla 159,632
209-Moscow 194,436
227-Hodgeman County 161,336
482-Dighton 150,679
208-Trego County 217,291
407-Russell County 406,392
293-Quinter 95,444
452-Stanton County 194,473
431-Hoisington 152,221
350-St. John-Hudson 152,515
477-Ingalls 59,977
369-Burrton 35,251
509-South Haven 7,352
366-Woodson 11,435
457-Garden City 56,055
TOTAL $ 4,057,651
Aid awarded because of increased enrollment:
314-Brewster $ 88,396
230-Spring Hill 428,799
509-South Haven 54,026
431-Hoisington 121,581
323-Rock Creek 140,960
458-Basehor-Linwood 192,850
265-Goddard 282,844
327-Ellsworth 38,020
203-Piper 88,272
313-Buhler 79,540
262-Valley Center 60,841
500-Kansas City 407,548
383-Manhattan 25,844
457-Garden City 0
204-Bonner Springs 0
233-Olathe 0
TOTAL $ 2,009,521