Woodlawn To Seek 2-Mill Tax Increase

RISON - Voters in the Woodlawn School District will be voting on a proposed 2-mill tax increase next year that will support construction of a new career technology center at Woodlawn High School as well as expansion of the school cafeteria, among other things.Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock said the school board voted 5-0 during its regular monthly meeting last Tuesday, Oct. 15, to approve a resolution adopting a proposed budget of expenditures that will allow the question to be put before voters during the May 13, 2025, school election. Woodlawn is proposing a 2mill tax increase on patron's real and personal property taxes in addition to restructuring the district's existing debt. Restructuring debt essentially means taking on additional debt and extending the length of repayment of that debt at the same yearly payment. Jason Holsclaw of Stephens, Inc., the district's financial adviser, was at the meeting and said the plan would generate $3.85 million for the district.Woodlawn's current tax rate is 37 mills, which includes the state-mandated 25 mills for maintenance and operations, and 12 mills for debt service. If voters approve the 2-mill increase, 25 mills would remain for maintenance and operations while 14 miles would be for debt service. In addition, Stephens reported that a mill in the Woodlawn School District brings in about $34,113 per year assuming a 95 percent tax collection rate. Therefore, a 2-mill tax increase would produce an additional $68,226 that would pay for the debt incurred with the construction and/or other district expenses.Hancock pointed out that district is currently servicing two debts, one from 2015 that will sunset in 2026 and another for 2019 that will sunset in 2029. He noted that the district was going to have ask for an extension to the 2015 debt service in about a year but the millage request on next year's ballot will address that need.As for what the proposed tax increase will cost taxpayers, Hols...