Public hearing set for school assistance amendment

When the urban renewal area established to accommodate Prestage and other potential industries was put in place, the arrangement allowed for amendments to be made to the plan so that some of the property tax revenue could go toward other projects, such as school assistance.

This week, county economic development director Bryce Davis requested a public hearing from the board of supervisors for the first URP amendment related to school funding.

Davis explained that the assistance would be for an expansion to the Eagle Grove elementary school. Since state funding for schools is based on the previous year’s enrollment numbers, Davis said an influx of students into the district without space to accommodate them could be a problem.

“We want to make sure we have funds available to assist and provide an educational opportunity for those students so the schools aren’t in any sort of fiscal jeopardy,” Davis said. The board approved Resolution 2017- 44 setting a public hearing date for the URP amendment for January 8 at 10:30 a.m. Other business at the county supervisors meeting on Monday included setting a bounty on beavers.

Read the full story in the December 14 edition.