1. Blue Ridge School District 18
Diamond in the Cornfield
2017 Tax Levy
Updated Nov. 16, 2017

2. 64% Local 10% State
4% Federal 23% On Behalf Payments

3. Increase over last year=3.43%
5 yr. average increase = 3.78%
10 yr. average increase = 2.95%

4. Evidence Based Funding Model Key Components
Research-based funding formula – goal to adequately and equitably fund education for all school districts in the State of Illinois over time
Ties funding to 26 evidence-based best practices, used to create a unique Adequacy Target for each school district
New dollars go to neediest districts first – those furthest from their Adequacy Target
No district loses money, including CPS

5. Evidence Based Funding Model Basics
Calculate each district’s Adequacy Target based on 26 evidence-based criteria
Consumer Wage Index (CWI) is used to adjust for cost of living differences
Establish Base Funding Minimum – total each district currently receives from the state. No district loses money in new formula.
Local Capacity Target: Determines how much a district should be contributing through property taxes
Includes Property Taxes and CPPRT
Districts with lower property wealth are expected to contribute less than higher wealth districts

6. Evidence Based Funding Model Fund Distribution
Each district is assigned a Tier based on how close a district is to its Adequacy Target
Tier
% of New Funding
Target Ratio
Tier 1
50%
TBD (in modeling ranged from 60-65%)
Tier 2*
49% (*includes Tier 1 districts)
90%
Tier 3
0.9%
100%
Tier 4
0.1%
>100%

7. Evidence Based Funding Model Resources
Overview Video: Detailed PowerPoint Explanation:

8. TIF 2 – TAX YEAR 2016
Tax Year 2016 Gross Loss in Local Property Taxes due to TIF 2 = $178,939
At this time it is not known the impact of TIF on the Evidence-Based Funding Formula. It is anticipated that the state will develop an estimation tool to evaluate impact, but it is not available at this time as the focus is finalizing the current year’s state claim.

9. Farmland Assessments
As of the 2015 Levy (payable in 2016), farmland assessments were revised
At that time, significant discrepancies were found to exist over the Certified Values and the EAV for farmland. Although a 2:1 difference was expected between the best soils and the least productive soils, instead the ratios were closer to 43:1.
Steps were taken to make the values fairer for tax assessment purposes
To correct the discrepancy, all Certified Values for all soil types will increase by 10% of the median Certified Value
For Blue Ridge, our soil types are typically far above the median and would usually have seen a 10% annual increase. With this change we will see increases closer to 5% while the values are made fairer over a year time frame.
As of 2018, the ratio will be a little over 7:1
On the positive side, because of the way the process is structured farm values will continue to increase for us

10. Calculated vs. Certified Values for Farm Land
Average Management PI*
2014 EAV
2014 Certified Value
2018 EAV
2018 Certified Value 82
590.28
15.26
945.69
102.96 90
694.70
37.53
125.24
100
825.23
105.55
193.25
111
968.81
203.32
291.02
125
485.68
573.39
130
645.93
733.64
The soils in our district tend to fall in the range
Farmers pay tax on Certified Values
These values will increase by 10% of the Certified Value of the PI 111 soils
*PI = Productivity Index

11. Pending Unknowns
Pension Reform – Cost Shift to Schools Cost is 7.5% of certified payroll Annual cost to the School District = $280,000 +

14. Bond Issues as of 6/30/2017 Name Year Issued Amount Originally Issued
Outstanding amount 06/30/2017
Year Debt is Retired
General Obligation Building Bonds
2012
6,500,000
6,115,000
2032
Life Safety Bonds
2013
2,455,000
2,220,000
2028
General Obligation Refunding Bonds
2014
2,285,000
2033
2017
548,000

15. A Truth in Taxation hearing will be scheduled for
Levy Summary
Levy
Excluding B/I*
Tax Rate
Including B/I*
2016 (actual)
$6,857,627
$7,631,877
2017 (requested)
$7,323,659
$8,103,813
2017 (expected)
$7,184,684
4.8769
$7,964,838
5.4065
% increase of requested dollar amount = 6.89% excluding B/I*
= 6.18% including B/I*
*B/I = Bond and Interest Payments
A Truth in Taxation hearing will be scheduled for
Dec. 20, 2017, 6:50 p.m.

16. What’s Important? Providing high quality education for our students
Protecting the bottom line
Keeping future goals in mind