Jamestown board opens public budget hearing; superintendent flags levy, distance-education costs and projected deficit

The Jamestown Public School Board opened its public budget hearing on Monday evening, Sept. 15, in the Thompson Community Room, where district leaders reviewed a preliminary 2025–26 budget, explained how House Bill 1176 affects local levies and proposed a tuition-levy increase to recover costs for parent-requested Center for Distance Education courses.

The hearing matters because the bill changes how some levies are capped, the district projects a general-fund shortfall for next year and leaders flagged declining enrollment and the loss of a major grant as drivers of the gap.

Superintendent (title on record) explained the hearing process and emphasized the budget is not being approved at the meeting. “The budget is not set for approval tonight,” the superintendent said, noting final adoption is scheduled for Oct. 6 to allow public input.

District staff told the board that House Bill 1176 introduced two principal changes relevant to local taxpayers: a 3% tax limit that applies to certain levies and a primary-residence tax credit applied at the county auditor level on the total tax statement. “The 3% tax limit refers to some of our levies,” the superintendent said, and the district noted the cap applies to the general fund…