BLUE EARTH — The Blue Earth Area School Board had an audit review and passed the tax levy for 2020 during their School Board meeting Monday night.

Laura Buechner, representing Clifton-Larson-Allen of New Ulm, told the board it was a clean audit.

One of the key financial highlights for the 2018-19 fiscal year was a decrease in the general fund balance from $3,209,583 in 2017-18 to $2,827,754 in 2018-19.

“This decrease of $381,829 was largely due to declining student enrollment,” Buechner said.

General fund expenditures decreased $268,700 from the previous year due to decreases in salaries, benefits and capital expenditures.

General fund revenue also decreased from the previous year. The decrease of $249,890 was due to decreases in property taxes and state and federal sources of revenue.

Following the audit review, the board took action to set the final property tax levy for 2020.

The School Board unanimously passed a resolution establishing the tax levy at $2,389,920.61. This figure represents a 3.18 percent increase over the previous year’s levy.

The board also:

– Approved the non-certified seniority list for 2019-20.

– Approved the certified seniority list for 2019-20.

– Had the first reading for Policy 535 regarding service animals in school.