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During their Dec. 11 meeting, members of the Wayzata Board of Education approved a $38,460,358.62 tax levy for 2007.

The levy represents a 3.78 percent increase over 2006.

Because of an 11.1-percent increase in the market value of taxable property in the district, however, property owners will not necessarily see a 3.78 percent increase on the District 284 portion of their tax bills, said Alan Hopeman, executive director of business and finance.

Growth in valuation due of new construction absorbed a percentage of the tax levy increase, so the average net increase on existing property would be around 2 percent, he said.

If a property increased more than 11.1 percent in value, however, it might show a greater increase in taxes, Hopeman said.

Property owners whose property values increased less than 11.1 percent could pay less, or possibly even see a decline in taxes, he said.

Because the District 284 tax increase was less than the rate of inflation, no Truth-in-Taxation hearing was required this year, Hopeman said.

The annual audit report was presented Dec. 11 and confirmed that district finances are well managed and that the district is in sound financial health, according to Dennis Hooeveen of Larson, Allen, Weishair and Co., the firm that audited the school district.

The audit also showed Wayzata Public Schools complied with laws, contracts, grants and federal programs, he said.

The June 30 balance in the unreserved-undesignated fund was $6.7 million, or 7.89 percent of the total general fund expenditures. The amount in the unreserved-undesignated fund helps indicate the financial health of the district because it helps with cash flow and serves as a cushion against unexpected expenditures, according to the report.

• Issues the board seeks to bring before the 2007 State Legislature were discussed. Board members approved a platform written by the Legislative Action Committee that calls for stable school funding from the state and for more local control by school districts.

• Because of current and projected enrollments in Wayzata schools, the board decided to set open enrollment limits for the 2007-2008 school year.

Greenwood, Kimberly Lane and Plymouth Creek elementary schools will be closed to open enrollment on all grade levels. East Middle School will be closed at the eight-grade level, and Wayzata High School will not accept any open enrollment students for grades nine or 10.

Otherwise, open enrollment students will be accepted on a space available basis.

• Ronda Gjestvang, a teacher at Kimberly Lane Elementary School, was named Employee of the Month.

http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2006/12/22/news/aw21wzboard.txt