Kevin Cederstrom
The New York Mills School Board voted to certify the 2008 tax levy at the maximum, but that maximum is lower than what was estimated with the preliminary levy in September. On Monday the board certified the levy at the full amount of $992,957 - an increase of 10.71 percent over last year. When the district set the preliminary levy in September the increase was estimated at 15 percent.
By fund, the General Fund increased 53 percent due to large health and safety projects to be completed through Energy Services Group; Community Service Fund is up 5.6 percent; and Debt Service decreased 5.41 percent. A portion of the increase is due to the increase in the anticipated net tax capacity.
The increase in the levy comes mostly from increases in the district's property market value and adjusted tax capacity. According to Cameron, NY Mills' market value increase is 14 percent while the state average is 11.8 percent. Cameron also said the adjusted tax capacity for NY Mills was capped at 19 percent by law, but the actual increase was 22 percent.
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Last year's levy increase was 4.34 percent over 2006.
High School Activity Day
New York Mills High School students will get an early start to the Christmas break this week with an Activity Day on Friday during 4th and 5th block. H.S. Principal Matt Aker reported to the board Monday that a number of activities will be available to students the last two blocks of the day. Activities include snow football, build gingerbread houses, hunting techniques, fishing, snow sculpture contest, scrapbooking, checkers/chess, board games, art project, volleyball tournament, 3-on-3 basketball, Wii games, or a movie in the auditorium.
School ratings
NY Mills received favorable marks in a recent officials rating system. In the past, coaches have rated officials and this is the first year officials rated schools. The MSHL asked for assistance from officials in order to provide feedback to the schools in regard to sportsmanship/behavior of coaches, players and spectators; as well as a rating on game personnel and site management. Individual game ratings and composite scores are provided to the schools and will provide incentives for the schools to deal with sportsmanship and behavior issues.
Ratings are based on a 1-5 scale (5 being best).
NY Mills Volleyball
Spectators received (16) 5's; (8) 4's; and nothing lower for an average score of 4.67
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Participants received (19) 5's; (4) 4's; (1) 3; and nothing lower for an average score of 4.75
Coaches received (16) 5's; (4) 4's; (2) 3's; (1) 2; (1) 1, for an average score of 4.38
Site Management received (12) 5's; (1) 4; nothing lower for an average score of 4.92
Game Personnel (timer, PA, etc.) received (7) 5's; (2) 4's; (1) 3; for an average score of 4.6
NY Mills Football
Specatators received (3) 5's; nothing lower for an average score of 5
Participants received (3) 5's; (1) 4; nothing lower for an average score of 4.75
Coaches received (4) 5's; nothing lower for an average score of 5
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Site Management received (1) 5; nothing lower for an average score of 5
Game Personnel (timer, PA, etc.) received (1) 5; nothing lower for an average score of 4.6
Other business
- accepted the resignation of Linda Milbrandt, effective June 30, 2008
- approved an overnight trip for the girls basketball team; the girls will attend a Bison women's game in Fargo on Jan. 26.
