TAX RATES UP, DOWN IN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Even though Cape Girardeau School District's tax rate will be a penny less than last year, its total property tax revenue will grow by more than $400,000.

The penny reduction means a property owner with a $100,000 residence will pay $1.90 less than last year. The owner of a commercial property valued at $100,000 will pay $3.20 less.

Property owners in the other county school districts will see mixed tax rates, from a decrease of 25 cents to an increase of 75 cents.

The additional revenue for the Cape Girardeau district comes from a jump in assessed valuation of almost $15 million in the past year to $277 million.

The school tax rate for Cape Girardeau residents is $2.86. They will pay an additional rate of $1.22 on other property taxes for a total of $4.08 per $100 of assessed valuation.

A $100,000 house, assessed at 19 percent of its value, will cost $543.40 in school taxes of the $775.20 total.

A $100,000 commercial building, assessed at 32 percent of its value, will carry a tax burden of $1,305.60, of which $915.20 will be school taxes.

In the Nell Holcomb School District, the tax rate decreased 25 cents this year to $3.10 per $100 of assessed valuation.

A property owner with a $100,000 house will pay $47.50 less this year than last. A property owner with a $100,000 commercial building will pay $80 less.

With a lower tax rate and a drop in Nell Holcomb's assessed valuation of $5.4 million, the school district also will see a $240,000 drop in revenue from property taxes.

Taxpayers of the Nell Holcomb District who are covered by the Fruitland Fire District will pay a total of $3.94 per $100 of assessed valuation this year. That is 21 cents less than last year because the fire district tax rate went up 4 cents.

Tax rates in Cape Girardeau County's remaining school districts are increasing primarily in response to 1993's Senate Bill 380, which requires a minimum tax rate of $2.75 in the operating levy.

The Nell Holcomb School District is at $2.79 in its operating levy, and the Cape Girardeau District is at $2.78. The remaining school districts are at $2.75.

Tax rates above those amounts include levies in the building or debt service funds.

With the 12-cent increase in the tax rate at Jackson, a $100,000 commercial building will cost $38.40 more in taxes this year than last.

A $100,000 house in the Oak Ridge School District will cost $77.90 more with the 41-cent tax increase.

A farmer around Delta with 100 acres of top-grade land will pay $33.26 more this year with the 31-cent increase.

Property in Cape Girardeau County that is part of the Advance School District is assessed at $949,230. The Advance tax rate is increasing 71 cents.

Cape Girardeau County property in the Meadow Heights School District at Patton is only a small amount, assessed at $15,120. Its tax rate is increasing 75 cents.