(Milford)– A Dickinson county school district has the lowest property tax levy in the state.
A comparison of property tax rates among all of the school districts in the state compiled by the Iowa Association of School Boards shows Okoboji is the lowest in the state at $9.57 per thousand dollars of valuation.
Superintendent Bob Miller says while the increased valuation around the lakes played a major roll, the district’s reduced debt service was also a major factor. Miller says only one payment is left on the auditorium bond, allowing them to greatly decrease the debt service asking.
Miller says the Local Option Sales Tax also played a roll in the decreased levy. He says LOST proceeds are being used to pay off existing debt on the new High School gym and the Middle School addition. Miller says they’re pretty much done with building projects now. He says the LOST money in the future will be used primarily for maintenance.
Miller adds Okoboji is the only school district in the state with a tax asking below 10-dollars per thousand dollars valuation.
