No increase in the tax rate. That’s what taxpayers will get after the Ray-Pec School Board approved the 2020 tax levy rate at $5.1823 during its Aug. 27 meeting.

The approval followed a public hearing. During the hearing, Cyndee Byous, Ray-Pec Chief Financial Officer, explained that this rate is adequate to support the District’s 2020-2021 budget as well as long range plans for future projects. 

Fiscal responsibility has allowed the District to achieve at high levels, while spending less per pupil and levying a lower tax rate than most area school districts.

With a tax levy rate that has increased only once in the past 16 years, Ray-Pec continues to make gains in student achievement and graduation rates, and also has an ACT composite score above the state average. The total property tax levy of $5.1823 includes an operating levy of $4.1502 and a debt service levy of $1.0321.