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Grand County School Board shifts portion of sunsetting debt levy to capital levy, adopts 2025–26 budget
Summary
At a Truth in Taxation public hearing the Grand County School District presented a plan to transfer part of a sunsetting debt levy into the capital levy, explained the projected tax impact, heard public comment, and approved property tax resolutions and the 2025–26 budget by 4–0 votes.
The Grand County School District Board of Education held a Truth in Taxation public hearing on Aug. 13 and voted to set property tax rates, approve related resolutions and adopt the district’s 2025–26 budget.
Jerry, a district staff member who presented the tax rate slides, told the board the district proposes to capture a portion of the tax rate tied to a general obligation bond that is scheduled to be paid off on June 30, 2028, and shift that portion into the capital levy to build cash for maintenance and repairs. ‘‘As that debt is being paid off … the district’s goal is to capture a portion of that, and just transition it to the capital levy,’’ Jerry said.
Jerry said the district’s outstanding general obligation debt balance was about $8,000,000 as of June 30, with an annual payment of about $2.5 million, and that the district proposes raising the capital levy by 0.000154 while the debt levy would decline by 0.000195. Using the district’s example of an average primary-home valuation of $475,000, Jerry said the proposal would raise that average homeowner’s tax by $37.88 from the capital levy change but still show an overall reduction in the district’s school levies in many sample notices.
The presenter showed that, over a seven‑year period, the combined bond and capital levies on taxpayers have fallen by roughly one‑third. Jerry said the intent is not to increase taxpayer burden but to redirect part of the sunsetting debt levy to a capital fund so the district can pay for roof, HVAC and other facility repairs using cash rather than issuing new debt.
During the public comment portion, a resident, Nestor Holloway of Thompson Springs, asked why his market and taxable values had more than doubled; board members and staff told him the district does not set property values and directed him to the county assessor’s office and the board of equalization for valuation questions.
After the hearing, the board passed two resolutions to set property tax rates and revenues for San Juan and Grand counties and voted to adopt the 2025–26 original budget as presented. Motions to approve the resolutions and to adopt the budget were approved by recorded voice votes of 4–0.
The board chair closed the Truth in Taxation and budget public hearing at 6:28 p.m. and returned the meeting to regular session.
