Esko levy to rise 5%

The Esko school board approved the 2023 tax levy with a 5-percent increase at their meeting Monday, Dec 12.

The board previously approved the 5-percent increase, which is the maximum amount allowed, for the preliminary levy in September. The total levy will increase to $2,238,714, which is $106,614 up from the 2022 tax levy.

The increase includes the lease-levy the board approved for the construction of a new fitness center for the district.

A vote on the proposed fitness center was originally on the agenda for Monday, but the district’s building project consultant group, ICS, was unable to attend. ICS has not yet provided the board a final cost for the project.

Board member Leona Johnson shared with the board her concerns about the absence and delay potentially setting back the project. Board chair Jerry Frederick discussed the facilities group potentially meeting prior to the board’s January meeting if needed to keep the project moving.

In other business, the board approved the purchase of a new school bus for the district. The district had planned to purchase a new bus last year, but ultimately pushed the purchase out in order to keep budget costs down.

According to superintendent Aaron Fischer, the delay in the purchase will cost the district. The district expects the new bus to cost nearly $18,000 more than what it cost in 2022, with bus prices increasing from $112,000 to nearly $130,000.

The board approved the purchase, not to exceed $130,000, in order to lock in a price as soon as the bus is ordered and avoid further inflation. Fischer told board members that the bus will likely not arrive for an upwards of eight months, but supported ordering the bus as soon as possible.