Councilman: Schools Expected to Receive $500,000 More From City

Manassas Park City Schools is on track to receive $500,000 more than the division received last year from the city, even if the city decides to implement a two cents tax levy for debt service, Manassas Park City Councilman Brian Leeper said.

 School officials and others in the community have expressed concern over the proposed two cents tax levy for debt service, because it would be about $126,000 less than what would be shared with Manassas Park schools.

 The city has an agreement with the school division to share 57 percent of its general revenue with schools.  Earmarked funds and funds set aside for debt service are not shared.

 “Right now, even with the two cents debt set aside, if the assessments increase as projected and we keep the same tax rate, the school board gets approximately an additional half million dollars over what they got last year,” Leeper said.

“The two cent debt set aside amounts to $126,000  (in) additional (funds) that the city has to apply towards long-term debt (bonds), which were used to finance the fire station, police station and recreation  center, all of which were built within the last 10 years.”

 The school district will only get the $500,000 if property value assessments go as projected.

 Council hasn’t decided whether to implement the two-cent tax levy, Leeper said.

If they don’t, then the money will have to come from somewhere else in the budget, he said.

 City council will have a budget work session on April 12, where they likely will discuss the levy.

 “ … the debt service is non-negotiable—it must be paid, just as surely as a mortgage payment must be paid,” Leeper said.

 Manassas Park City Schools is set to present its budget to the city council tonight at 7 p.m.

 The school board approved a $36 million 2012 budget for the division last month.

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