More state aid and a lower tax rate are highlights of next year's budget for the Bettendorf schools. Monday, the school board gave its final approval to an 80 million dollar budget.
Maxine McEnany, director of business and finance, says the new levy will be 13-dollars and 91 cents per 1,000 dollars assessed value - 11 cents lower than this year.
Enrollment has gone up by about 70 students, so the district will receive additional state aid, plus the legislature has approved raising state aid next year by 2.25 per cent.
2.25 per cent means 145 dollars more per student next year, for a total of 66-hundred dollars per student.
McEnany says construction projects next year will include 1.8 million dollars for the tennis courts at Bettendorf High School and middle school.
The district also plans to renovate the middle school parking lot, for 2 million dollars.