Robinson Daily News

Unit 2 approves Marathon tax plan



 

 

Robinson Unit 2 is the latest area taxing body to approve a new tax assessment agreement with Marathon Petroleum.

Under the new agreement, taxes on the Robinson refinery for the next four years will be based on an equalized assessed valuation of $213 million, up from $209 million under the previous agreement.

It’s a “win-win” situation for the oil company, taxing bodies and other taxpayers, Unit 2 Superintendent Josh Quick explained.

By having a set EAV for several years, it makes financial planning easier for both Marathon and the taxing bodies. It also means greater stability in all local tax bills because so much of the total area EAV is Marathon.

The agreements, negotiated between Marathon, Unit 2 and other taxing bodies date back about 14 years. At the time, the Crawford County Board of Review ruled the refinery had been grossly under-assessed. Marathon objected and it became apparent it was “in everyone’s best interest to play nice,” board President Bill Sandiford recalled.

Quick said the latest negotiations were “a good process.”

In a related matter, Quick presented the preliminary Unit 2 tax levy for the coming year.

Based on a total EAV of more than $390 million, the levy is a little more than 4 percent more than the actual tax revenues collected by the district this year. This means no Truth in Taxation hearing will be needed before the board gives takes a final vote on the levy in December.

Also, during Monday’s school board meeting, elementary music teacher Keegan Tucker presented the board with a plan that will help new Unit 2 teachers learn the ropes faster while giving veteran teachers the chance to share their knowledge.

Under the proposed new teacher induction plan, new teachers would be mentored by tenured educators. Newcomers will be able to turn to their mentors for advice and guidance, even having them sit in on classes to review how they are doing.

Tucker’s goal is to define the program, establish detailed information on topics new teachers may need help with and set up the structure of the mentor program. He hopes to have it in place for the 2023-24 school year.

In personnel matters, the board hired Jaime Crowe as a special education paraprofessional, Colt Poettker as building trades class teacher, Justin Musselwhite as RHS auto teacher, Tanner Keeler as RHS special education teacher and paraprofessional, Jessica Anderson as RHS assistant girls track coach, Jessica Stout as WES lunchroom supervisor and Tracy Weger as homebound instruction teacher.

Landyn Shonk was approved as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach. Jessica Steele and Mark Blagrave were approved as a volunteer assistant cheerleading sponsor and a volunteer assistant boys basketball coach at Nuttall Middle School, respectively.

Allison Reinoehl was reassigned as the new district and board secretary and resignations were accepted from parent and family coordinator Molly Hardiman and special ed paraprofessional Ciarah Hetzler.

Board members heard that the annual fifth-grade musical at Lincoln Elementary School – Frozen Jr. – went well, with 65 students giving four performances in two days. They also learned the Robinson High School musical – Little Shop of Horrors – is coming up Dec. 16 to 18.

They also reviewed and approved the annual district Risk Management Plan.

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