By Jan Schultz
    The Imperial Republican
     Supt. Matt Fisher told school board members last month that there was some good news in the anticipated cut Chase County Schools was expecting in 2008-09 state aid to education.
     Based on early estimates just before the passage of LB 988, which changed how state aid is figured, CCS was expecting about $150,000 less in state aid compared to this year.
     The good news, Fisher had said in April, was the cut had earlier been anticipated as much greater.
     Well, that "good news" evaporated last week when the revamped, final state aid figures were released with LB 988's changes included.
     Like many smaller rural schools, Chase County will have less state aid to work with in 2008-09. Chase County's allotment of $566,391.09 is $193,709.18 less than the current year.
     CCS is operating with $760,100 this year, and had initially been informed in February that the local school district could expect $847,775 for 2008-09.
     But, that was before LB 988 gained momentum and eventually passed on April 2, then was signed by the Governor.
     That's when local school officials knew cuts were coming.
     Supt. Fisher said local property taxpayers will have to face the fact taxes here are going up.
     "It's either cut program or raise taxes," he said.
     Now, taxpayers in the CCS district are paying a levy of about 95 cents on each $100 in valuation. Part of what LB 988 encourages, Fisher said, is that local levies be closer to $1 per $100 valuation.
     Based on the new formulas, those districts which are at the $1 or higher levy are getting more state aid.
     "It's forcing schools to get their levies above the $1 mark. It's saying if you're not taxing (locally) at a $1, you should be," Fisher said.
     School districts are still bound by the $1.05 limit on local levies.
     Fisher said he and the school board will be addressing how to deal with the drop in state aid, but it basically means taxes here will go up, or programs cut.
     He is uncertain whether the board will choose to increase the full five cents or more per $100 during 2008-09 or spread it over two budget years.
     Some of the change in fewer state aid dollars here also deals with the removal of the "sparse" and "very sparse" categories in which schools were placed.
     CCS was designated in the "sparse" category, which allotted it more money based on the number of people per square mile in its district and how far it is to the nearest high school on paved roads.
     Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools also took a hit. They'll receive $82,726.37 less in state aid next year, dropping from $974,693.09 to $891,966.72.
     Meanwhile, Perkins County Schools and Dundy County/Stratton received significant increases. Dundy County/Stratton will see over $700,000 more in state aid, while Perkins County is earmarked for an increase over $600,000.
     Both schools merged with nearby districts in recent years.