If the school district did not move these funds, the debts should be paid down in approximately 13 years instead of 20. 

Capital improvements and renovations must be completed using bond funds. Many of our buildings are over 50 years old, so our goal has always been to aggressively pay down debt in order to ensure our bonding capacity can absorb the necessary improvements.

The operating funds will be transferred from the district's debt service account. So, the operating fund will go up $.50 and the debt service fund will go down $.50. Therefore, our levy will remain the same.

The state requires school districts to ask for permission from our voters to move money from our debt service levy to our operating levy.

The district will stay on the 20 year track for paying down its debts. A 20 year amortization cycle is normal for school districts in Missouri. 

We continue to aggressively pay down the debt to ensure our bonding capacity allows us to propose ballot issues without a tax rate increase.

School districts cover maintenance issues through bonds; that is how school finance works in Missouri.

So while the tax rate will not go down, the Belton School District has a proud tradition of working diligently and acting responsibly so taxpayers do not see an increase.

The levy transfer would allow us to have a starting salary (base) of $40,000 for a first year teacher. This would put Belton in the top 5 of area districts for starting teacher salaries and therefore help us recruit and retain top talent for our students.

All other salaries are then based off the teacher salary schedule.

The conservative spending and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars has allowed the district to propose several ballot issues over the last 20 years without a tax increase. We expect that practice to continue.

A levy passed in 2004 with a tax increase to offset $4.5M reduction in state funding.

We are committed to increasing the salaries of our staff with the funds that are transferred.