Ringgold budget includes tax hike

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
The Ringgold School Board has approved a preliminary budget that includes an increase of 2/10ths of a mill in real estate taxes.
The $46.5 million draft spending plan represents an increase in spending of $1.3 million.
The tax increase, if approved when the final budget is adopted in June, will cost property owners $22 more per $100,000 of assessed value.
School board Director Maureen Ott said she is concerned about the district continuing to increase the budge every year.
Last year, the board also voted to approve a 2/10ths of a mill increase.
“I’d like us to find other ways to come up with to bring the budget down,” Ott said.
Randall Skrinjorich, the district director of operations and finance, said approximately 60-70% of the budget is tied up in salaries and benefits.
“I think there are ways we could be more creative and cut (spending),” Ott said.
Board finance Chairman Bill Stein said he generally agrees with Ott. But he pointed out that the 2/10ths of a mill increase is “substantially lower than other districts.”
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