The St. Joseph School District Board of Education has unanimously approved putting a tax levy on the ballot in November.

The board approved language for a $1.15 tax increase 7 to 0 during a special meeting Monday evening.  The levy will be placed on the November ballot without a sunset clause.

The move comes after the district’s special task force, 1Vision recommended the increase which includes a 63-cent operating levy and 52 cents via the Prop-C rollback. As we reported, if approved by voters the levy increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $218.50 per year in taxes.

If approved, the proposal would generate an additional $11.5 million dollars in revenue each year. 1Vision recommended that $5.4 million of that be spent to maintain and improve the current staff and programs with a balanced budget, and to continue basic building maintenance and repair.

During the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart announced the 2017-18 school year will be his last with the St. Joseph School District.  Newhart said a transition plan will be submitted on the 28th of August. Newhart said Martin Rucker and Dennis Snethen have announced they are not seeking another term on the board.