Granada – After crunching the numbers, it was found that this year’s Granada-Huntley-East Chain levy is identical to last year’s, down to the cent.

When the General Fund, Community Service and Debt Redemption costs are all added up, it comes to $1,936,903.41, the exact same number as last year. There are changes under the surface. The General Fund increased from $1,443,059.36 to $1,451,610.82 and the Community Services Fund increased from $33,097.67 to $38,163.76.

Business Manager Brian Mittelstadt said the general fund covers about everything in the district.

“Transportation, special education, most of the staff, teaching staff, paras, custodial, building and grounds, etc.,” he said.

These additions were able to be mitigated with $13,617.55 being subtracted from the Debt Redemption fund. Through this balancing, the levy was brought down to last year’s levels.

Had the school board gone with the maximum possible levy, it would have increased by 5.5 percent from last year. Mittelstadt said GHEC is part of 1 percent of schools that under-levies, where they look to have a levy under the maximum possible amount.

“Everybody else does the maximum, he said. “Sometimes the maximum goes up because the maximum goes up, and sometimes it goes down based on the state’s formulas.

The projected revenue and expenses are both set at $6,650,000 for the school’s 2024-25 budget. Mittelstadt said that is just conservative estimating, as generally revenue is higher and expenses are lower than estimated.

Mittelstadt used the 2023-24 school year as evidence, where the school made $7,247,834 and spent $6,324,248.

No one from the public showed up to comment on the tax levy.

Board Member Ross Gronewald motioned to approve the tax levy and Board Member Brad Mattison seconded. The board unanimously carried the motion.

In other news

— The addition of Melissa Engel as eSports General Manager and removal of Melissa Engel as Jr High Girls Basketball Coach and Alex Roorda as Knowledge Bowl coach were approved.

— Chris Pytleski was recognized for his 10 years of service as a school board member, as this was his last meeting. He will be replaced by J.D. Goraczowski, who ran while Pytleski chose not to.

— Superintendent Doug Storbeck discussed policy changes moving forward. He said while there is a policy committee, he would still like for all school board members to review policy changes before they are approved.