Property taxes are projected to increase slightly in the 2013–14 Platteville School District budget residents will vote upon at the school district’s annual meeting Aug. 26.

Those who attend will vote on a budget and tax levy projected to increase 2.23 percent, to almost $15.7 million. The mil rate is projected at $11.44 per $1,000 assessed valuation, up from $11.29 per $1,000 last school year.

The owner of a house assessed at $150,000 will pay $1,716 in school property taxes, up from $1,693.50 last year, if the school district’s projections are correct.

Whether the budget, tax levy and mil rate change will depend on three factors after the annual meeting, according to school district Business Manager Art Beaulieu — the statewide third-Friday enrollment count Sept. 20, property value reports in October, and final state aid certifications Oct. 15. Increases in enrollment, property values or state aid would reduce the tax levy and mil rate; decreases in those areas would increase the mil rate.

Beaulieu said the budget increase is nearly all in four areas — health insurance, up 9 percent; dental insurance, up 10 percent; the Consumer Price Index, up 2 percent; and retirement benefits, up 0.4 percent.

The school district is getting a $150-per-student increase in spending — a $75-per-student increase in state aid that is part of the state’s 2013–15 budget, which also allows school districts to levy $75 per student in additional taxes this school year.

The school district is also receiving more state aid because students from the closed St. Mary’s School are now more accurately reflected in equalized aid..

“Equalized aid is a year behind,” said Beaulieu.