Dear Ottumwa Community,
As we continue working to provide the best possible educational opportunities for our students, we remain committed to being thoughtful and responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Recently, the district proposed a tax rate increase of thirty-two cents. After careful consideration and discussion, I am recommending to the Ottumwa School Board that we do not move forward with any tax rate increase this year.
While maintaining a strong financial foundation is always a top priority, I believe keeping the tax rate steady is the right decision at this time—for several key reasons:
- Many families in our community are facing financial challenges, and we want to be mindful of that reality.
- Our district’s financial position is strong. With a healthy solvency ratio, choosing not to raise the tax rate will have only a minimal impact on our long-term goals.
- Our continued enrollment growth over the past few years has provided the financial flexibility to support our schools without increasing the tax burden.
- And most importantly, this is an opportunity to show our appreciation to the Ottumwa community for your ongoing support of our students and schools.
I extend my sincere thanks to our Ottumwa School Board members for their continued leadership and support. Their commitment to balancing fiscal responsibility with doing what’s best for our families and community played a key role in my recommendation to hold our tax rate steady. Their guidance throughout this process has been invaluable.
We hope this decision further strengthens the partnership between our district and the Ottumwa community. We are proud to serve a community that values education and consistently supports our mission. We look forward to continuing our work together to ensure Ottumwa Schools remain a source of pride and opportunity for all.
Sincerely,
Mike McGrory
Superintendent
Ottumwa Community School District
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