• Every four years, all Louisiana property is reassessed. This year, Orleans assessments increased from $2.765 billion to $2.887 billion, an increase of $122 million.
• State law requires taxing authorities to adopt resolutions adjusting their millage rates to keep taxes "revenue neutral." Typically, this is a "roll back."
• State law permits taxing authorities to then, by 2/3 vote, adopt resolutions increasing their adjusted millages up to their pre-adjustment levels. Typically, this is a "roll forward."
• If OPSB rolled forward all of its millages, an increase of $4.9 million in revenues would result for this fiscal year. The proposed resolutions result in declining the additional tax revenue.
• OPSB must also set the millage rate to pay off general obligation bond issues. This rate is adjusted to account not only for the property reassessment, but also for the amount due during the year to pay off the bonds' principal and interest.
• Taxing authorities have the option to levy millages lower than the maximums legally authorized.
• For these resolutions, collections are assumed to be 100 percent, although actual collections typically are somewhat more than 90 percent.
• OPSB is authorized to levy the following property tax millages:
• Constitutional Millage
• Purpose A - School Books, Materials, Supplies
• Purpose B - Early Childhood, Discipline, Dropout Programs
• Purpose C - Employee Salary, Benefits, Incentive
• Purpose D - Air- Conditioning, Asbestos Removal, Facilities Maintenance
• Administration has a goal of increasing the Constitutional Millage while phasing out the "Purpose" millages in order to save the cost of renewal every ten years.
• The proposed resolutions have the effect of keeping the combined assessed millages essentially revenue-neutral while also restructuring how the various millages contribute to the total. 

Resolution No. 23-11: Adopt Millage Rate 

• Constitutional Millage - 26.4800 mills
• Purpose A - 1.4840 mills
• Purpose B - 1.4840 mills
• Purpose C - 6.9620 mills
• Purpose D - 2.2215 mills

Resolution No. 24-11: Increase Millage Rate

• Constitutional Millage - 27.6500 mills
• Purpose A - 1.3930 mills
• Purpose B - 0 mills
• Purpose C - 7.2700 mills
• Purpose D - 2.3200 mills

• General Obligation Bonds - 4.97 mills

Superintendent's Agenda

Recieved information and took action as indicated

Dropout and Graduation Rates 

• OPSB direct-run and charter schools rank #1 in Louisiana for graduation rates (93.5%)
• OPSB graduation rates exceed State target for 2014 (80%)
• Superintendent Kilbert commended teachers for the success by saying, "Nothing beats a great teacher"
• OPSB also ranked #2 in Louisiana for School Performance Scores

Committee Reports/Recommendations/Action Items

Received reports from Committee chairpersons 

Committee Reports 

•  Accountability Committee
• Budget and Finance Committee
• Legal and Legislative Committee
• Policy Committee
• Property Committee

Action Items/Resolutions

Took action as indicated 

Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood Center

• Approved negotiating contracts for OPSB to assume full management authority of the Center 

Resolution No. 23-11: Adopt Millage Rate

• Approved the Resolution as outlined above

Resolution No. 24-11: Increase Millage Rate

• Approved the Resolution as outlined above

Resolution No. 25-11: Designate the Millage Rate for General Obligation Bonds

• Approved the Resolution as outlined above

Resolution No. 27-11: Capital Projects Amendment #1

• Approved a budget for Land Acquisition of $ 3,251,744
• Approved an additional $ 500,000 for the expenses for Sale of Surplus Property
• Approved an additional $ 1,000,000 for Insurance Settlement expenses
• Approved $ 750,000 in FEMA funds to renew temporary school sites pending construction

Recess into Executive Session to consider the following matters

• Expropriation litigation RE: McDonogh 11
• Insurance litigation with Lexington Insurance Co.
• Return of schools litigation with the State
• Two personal injury cases - settlement recommendations

 Reconvene from Executive Session

• Adopted Resolution 28-11 - Jury Trial Waiver for the McDonogh 11 expropriation litigation
• Approved the settlement of two personal injury cases