Unit 5 is proposing a nearly $151 million property tax levy for 2023, about 10% more than last year. But the district plans to lower its overall tax rate.
The plan calls for decreasing the tax rate about 24 cents, to about $5.28 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation [EAV].
The board discussed the proposal Wednesday during its meeting at Normal West Community High School. A public hearing and a board vote is set for Dec. 20.
More than 65% of Unit 5’s budget comes from local property tax revenue.
Also at the meeting, the board heard a report on enrollment and academic achievement. That offered news the district is climbing back to pre-pandemic level success rates, and working to close gaps among underrepresented groups.
'Fiscally responsible’ use of taxpayers’ money
Unit 5 expects a 15% increase to the district's total EAV. Most existing properties have seen nearly 12% EAV jumps. But an additional $80 million comes from new construction, said Marty Hickman, Unit 5 finance chief. The last few years have seen about $20 million in that area, which is good, he said. “So, this year was exceptional.”
He credited continued success, and spillover effect of electric automaker Rivian for much of the growth.
Some taxpayers say with the significant boost to its EAV, the district should decrease its tax rate even more — and thus collect a smaller levied amount. But Unit 5 leaders disagree.
By balancing the levy and tax rate, the district is taking a fiscally conservative approach to bank for the lean years, when EAV slows, or decreases, said Hickman.
As part of his presentation Wednesday, Hickman showed a 20-year chart that illustrates EAV changes for the district. The sharp 15% incline seen this year stands out.
“(It's) what is the most fiscally sound approach to accomplish the objectives that we’d like to accomplish, but also what the community is telling us to accomplish.”
— Stan Gozur, Unit 5 school board member
“There’s no guarantee that it’s going to stay at this rate,” and that’s a point the community needs to understand, said board member Kentrica Coleman.
The next year or two may come in good, but in the long run, that’s not something to depend on, agreed Hickman. “We need to plan for something much more moderate,” he said.
Hickman also lamented a misnomer in the community that the spring referendum — which authorized Unit 5 to increase its education fund tax rate — will help this year’s budget. That doesn't happen for another year.
With the April win, the district promised voters the ed fund rate wouldn’t increase until bonds and other debt begin to drop off. That doesn’t begin until next year. The idea is that by 2026, district taxpayers wouldn’t see an overall tax increase.
For now, Unit 5 continues to operate with a deficit of more than $9 million. The borrowed money is keeping the district afloat, so Hickman and other district leaders say this 2023 proposed tax levy is a fiscally sound decision.
If the proposed levy and rate are adopted, Unit 5 projects about $1.8 million in additional revenue.
Some of that will help chip away at the deficit, said Hickman. The rest will focus on spending: The district will beef up security at its middle school entrances; maintain staffing levels to keep class sizes smaller, and continue some expanded summer school offerings.
These issues are ones prioritized through Unit 5's focused community engagement last year.
Coleman said it’s good the district is finding ways to address some of the immediate needs facing students. Fellow board member Stan Gozur agreed, saying, “While some of our wish list things can wait, it’s hard to wait for safety and security.”
Gozur said he supports the proposed levy because he sees it as the best use of public tax dollars. “[It's] what is the most fiscally sound approach to accomplish the objectives that we’d like to accomplish, but also what the community is telling us to accomplish.”
Hickman noted the district doesn't set the EAV, just the tax rate. He offered the example of a home worth $225,000 in 2022 that increased in value to $251,000 this year. With the proposed levy and rate, that homeowner would pay an extra $300 in taxes, for its portion of the Unit 5 tax bill.
Board members Amy Roser and Mark Adams said a homeowner with an increased EAV may be frustrated by taxes going up, but it's worth remembering meanwhile, the property is becoming a better investment, too.
Academic progress report shows modest gains
Assistant superintendent Michelle Lamboley joined several administrators to report on academic achievements, and conscious efforts to improve outcomes for groups not excelling as much as others.
Unit 5’s fall enrollment is slightly increasing. First day enrollment showed 12,319 — about 60 more students than last fall’s first day. Lamboley said an additional 200 students enrolled throughout the fall semester.
The district’s enrollment peaked in fall 2019 with about 13,200 students. Board member Amy Roser said sometimes the fluctuations simply reflect certain years seeing more births than others.
More than half of Unit 5 students are white — 56%. About 15% are Black, 11.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 9.6% Asian. Nearly 7% list two or more categories. Less than 1% of Unit 5 students identify as Native American.
While 12,500 students are in Unit 5 schools this fall, Lamboley said the district should get ready for more: The Bloomington-Normal area has a number of housing developments in the works.
Board member Alex Williams asked how Unit 5 can best prepare for that.
Superintendent Kristen Weikle noted the district’s strategic planning efforts take into account projected growth, but she said many of these changes can’t be made overnight.
“It takes at least a couple of years to build an addition or new building,” she said. Adding portable classrooms could be one temporary solution — one Unit 5 has deployed in the past.
Wednesday's data-filled presentation included enrollment trends, assessment data on math and reading, graduation rates, advanced placement and more.
Overall, Unit 5 students are performing above the state average, with graduation rates that reflect that.
Detailed breakdowns of groups by race, income-level and other categories outlined how some groups still are underrepresented in those success stories. But the charts also showed gains made in those groups — highlighting district efforts to close those gaps.
Kristal Shelvin, who leads Unit 5's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, showed how in grade school reading and math assessments, each group made gains. But notably, "the greatest amount of growth was from groups that started lower."
Similar trends were at higher grade levels, too. Unit 5 looks at freshmen, working to keep them on track to graduation. By dis-aggregating subgroups, the district can notice trends, in areas such as four-year graudation rates, she said.
Board members said that data like that demonstrates the district’s careful attention to helping students reach their best outcomes.
“This report is important for me,” said Unit 5 school board president Kelly Pyle, adding, “This really helps give us a road map” by providing data on where the district is, and goals for where it wants to be.
Lamboley shared several ways the district has used collected data to improve the education for district students:
- Grant-funded summer school aimed at improving reading and math skills.
- Training staff on equity in the classroom.
- Using the early release-days to provide professional development.
- Focusing on educators’ accessing the latest in math and literacy teaching.
- Developing individual school plans, including multi-tiered systems of support.
- Investing in comparative analysis.
Board members praised these efforts to moving students forward.
“I appreciate the intentionality,” said Coleman.
“We’re not quite there…But I like the trajectory we are on,” added Jeremy DeHaai.
“The growth we are seeing (in academic achievement) just didn’t happen,” said Gozur, adding it’s multiple years of successful efforts like the ones Lamboley shared.
Need for multilingual services growing
Of the district’s 12,000-plus students, more than 1,000 are enrolled in English as a second language, or bilingual services for the 2023-2024 school year. That’s up 210 students from the previous year.
The district’s director of multilingual services, Leslie Webb, told the board more than 400 students were screened for the services. That happens when students are new to the country, arrive from another state, or are new to public schools.
The district’s English language learners are tested for progress through the ACCESS program.
Last year, about 10% of Unit 5’s English learners showed enough progress to no longer need the multilingual services. That compares to state's exiting rate of under 6%, she said.
Something new this year, Unit 5 has started offering two sections of one-way dual language at Cedar Ridge School, in kindergarten and first grades, as well as an afternoon bilingual preschool section.
In other business, the board:
- OK’d spending $150,000 to replace fan coils at Northpoint Elementary School.
- Approved about a dozen district procedures and policies.
- Approved an application process for students to be considered for early entrance to kindergarten or first grade.
- Recognized Crystal Greenwald as All City Management’s annual outstanding crossing guard near Northpoint. Greenwald also is a Unit 5 employee, who is noon supervisor at the school.
- Approved two donations providing nearly a dozen maple trees for outside Fairview Elementary School.
