By Sam Parsons

The Pella Community School Board met last night and discussed their certified budget process. The board set the public hearing for their certified budget for April 10 and discussed some of the main numbers. The total proposed property tax rate for the district will be at 14.607, which is 0.2 cents per $1,000 higher than last year’s rate, and the maximum the district will be able to spend in all funds next year would be about $78.6 million; roughly $9.6 million lower than last year. It’s estimated that the district would spend $7,229 of property tax dollars per student under the proposed budget. The budget will be up for approval at the April 10 public hearing.

And the board approved a 28E agreement for the district to participate in the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool, an organization that helps school districts across the state manage the cost of natural gas. Superintendent Greg Ebeling said that the cost of natural gas has been volatile in the past, but that this program helps to stabilize it and ideally for a lower price.

Over the previous 5 years, the district had spent between $64,000-96,000 a year on natural gas, but last year, the number rose to over $119,000. Ebeling said participating in the program and moving the $82,000 in expenses to the management fund would essentially free up those dollars from the general fund. Ultimately, the agreement was approved by the board.

The next Pella School Board meeting will be held on April 10.