Rockwood R‑VI board approves preliminary 2024–25 tax levy, authorizes superintendent to finalize rate

The Rockwood R‑VI Board of Education on Sept. 26 adopted a preliminary tax levy for the 2024–25 school year, setting a proposed overall rate of 3.8826 and authorizing the superintendent to set the final rate after validation by the Missouri State Auditor.

The board chair called for a motion to adopt the tax rate language that includes a provision allowing the superintendent to adjust the final rate to match the auditor-validated ceiling; the motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The motion instructs the superintendent to set the final district rate if the Missouri State Auditor validates a ceiling that differs from the adopted rate.

Why it matters: District staff said the rate set at the Sept. 26 meeting will fund the 2024–25 school year and that most collections will be received in December and January. Dan, who delivered the calculation slides, said the district’s assessed valuation for calendar year 2024 is about 5,400,000,000.0 and that 2024 is a non‑reassessment year with only small valuation changes driven by new construction and personal property.

Dan summarized the numbers in the presentation and placed the proposed 3.8826 rate in historical context: “Again, you can just see that we are at our lowest tax rate, in the last 10 years, at 3.8826.” He also explained that the decrease in the debt service levy is part of the Proposition 3 phase‑in: 36¢ per $100 of assessed valuation is being transferred from debt service to the capital projects fund this year, with the remaining 18¢ scheduled to shift in the 2025 tax‑setting process. Dan said that after the phase‑in completes the debt service levy is expected to be 14¢ beginning in 2026, which the district anticipates will be sufficient to satisfy remaining general obligation bonds.

The presentation noted the capital projects reporting structure (one reported capital projects fund composed of two subfunds), and staff said the district is projecting a 97% tax collection rate. Dan flagged an external policy development—Senate Bill 190 (a senior property tax freeze being posted by Saint Louis County)—and said the district will monitor county guidance to assess operational impacts.

Board members asked operational questions. One member confirmed that counties will issue tax bills so taxes will be collected. Another member asked why the teacher fund appears reduced in the year‑to‑year fund comparison; Dan replied that an increase in state basic formula funding (referred to in the presentation as “SAT,” which he said was increased to $67.60) shifts revenue balances across funds and that staff balance the revenues across funds accordingly.

The board read the motion one more time before voting. The chair called the voice vote; members answered “Aye,” and the chair declared the motion passed. No roll-call vote was taken in the transcript. After the vote, speakers exchanged brief thanks and the meeting was adjourned.

The next procedural step is for the superintendent to set the final rate after the Missouri State Auditor completes validation, and the district will update the public as counties post tax bills and as state policy developments are clarified.