Local school districts are supportive of a property tax relief proposal.

A proposal on a dollar for dollar exchange in school property tax for state aid was among the topics school district leaders discussed with local legislators.

Mandan and Bismarck school districts met for breakfast with legislators from their district last week. They talked about recommendations from the governor's education committee and the tax relief proposal.

"As long as it's property tax relief, and we get a dollar-for-dollar exchange, it's good," Mandan Superintendent Wilfred Volesky said.

It would lower the tax rate in the district's general fund by about 75 mills. The difference would be made up through an increase in per pupil funding.

In school districts like Mandan, this would lower the mill levy cap on the general fund from 185 mills to 110 mills. Two districts in the state, Bismarck and Grand Forks, have a voter-approved unlimited general fund mill levy.

With the tax relief proposal, this would reduce Bismarck's general fund mill levy by 75 mills as well, bringing the general fund mills to 131 mills from 206 mills.

"It will be a little higher than other districts because we have the unlimited mill levy," Bismarck Superintendent Paul Johnson said.

Even with the unlimited general fund mill levy, the district does not have the highest combined tax rate. In addition to the general fund, districts also levy taxes to pay debt, building maintenance and technology.

In addition to property tax relief, the districts talked with legislators about recommendations by the North Dakota Education Commission. The Bismarck and Mandan school districts support the recommendations.

Among the concerns of the Mandan School District are the recommendations involving counselors. One recommendation changes the ratio of school counselors to students from one per 450 students to one per 300 students. Another recommendation allows career advisers to count toward staffing requirements.

The Mandan district supports adding more counseling staff, but it is difficult to attract applicants, Volesky said.

The Bismarck School District was interested in the tiered diploma proposal and funding for Bismarck State College to renovate the career and technical center, Johnson said.

If the diploma proposal passes, it would let schools give honor, merit and general diplomas. The honor diploma could be received for academics or career and technical education, the merit diploma would be equivalent to current diplomas, and the general diploma would be by agreement of the school, parents and student.

Funding for Bismarck State College for the career and technical center would benefit the district, which also uses the building. The building is planned for renovation once the district opens a new career and technical center on the BSC campus.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)