Ash Grove Board of Ed. keeps current tax rate

The tax levy for the Ash Grove R-4 School District will remain the same for fiscal year 2027, following the board of education's unanimous vote to maintain the current rate. The overall levy will be $3.5855 per $100 of assessed value, which is comprised of an operating levy of $2.7625 and debt service of $.8230.  
The vote occurred during the body's Aug. 26 meeting, which followed an annual public hearing on the matter. 
During the hearing, Superintendent Shane Medlin outlined the financial picture for the district. Medlin presented information that stated the district increased its overall assessed valuation to $97,148,938, an increase of $2,329,516 over last year.
The levy is near the lowest among Ash Grove's peers in the Southwest Conference, shown below.
 
Southwest Conference
Pierce City - $4.4100
Sarcoxie - $4.0788
Lockwood - $4.0300
Miller - $3.8500
Diamond- $3.7692
Marionville - $3.7300
Skyline - $3.6431
Ash Grove - $3.5855
Stockton - $3.3972
 
In other action
The board voted to make prepayments on two general obligation bonds. The first payment is a Series 2021 bond, totaling $295,000, which paying early will save the district $11,800. The second is a general obligation bond Series 2018 for $100,000, which will benefit the district $50,000, for a grand total of $61,800 in interest saved.