Pleasant Valley adopts 2025-26 certified budget; sets levy at $27.64 million

The Pleasant Valley Community School District Board of Directors adopted its 2025-26 certified budget and property tax levies totaling $27,637,861, setting a levy rate of $12.20574 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

Board members conducted a public hearing before the vote; no members of the public spoke during the hearing. The motion to adopt the budget was made by Director Kunkle and seconded by Director Ayers, and passed on a roll-call vote with each board member voting yes.

The board’s business office presenter explained why the district is not levying for a cash reserve in 2025-26. The certified budget materials showed three levy scenarios prepared for different possible state supplemental aid (SSA) outcomes: an earlier estimate sent to taxpayers based on a 4% SSA, a published version based on a hypothetical 0% SSA, and a final worksheet reflecting the legislature’s 2% SSA figure (pending the governor’s signature). Under the documents presented, the maximum total property taxes originally mailed to taxpayers was $27,724,139; the certified levy adopted by the board is $27,637,861.

The presenter said the district’s general fund balance at June 30, 2024, was $13,544,629, and noted the statutory cash-reserve threshold is 20% of general fund expenditures. With general fund expenditures of $66,797,998.04 for 2023-24, 20% of that amount is $13,359,597. The presenter said the June 30 fund balance exceeded that 20% limit by $185,032, which—under the published calculation—precludes using a cash-reserve levy for 2025-26. As a result, the district adjusted its management fund levy to keep the total levy within the limit sent to taxpayers.

On rates, the presenter showed the current levy rate rounded to the nearest penny is $13.46 per $1,000; the 2025-26 levy rate as presented was $12.21 per $1,000, a decrease of roughly $1.25 per $1,000. The presenter also noted the board must submit the adopted certified budget to the county by April 30.

Board members discussed ongoing state-level proposals that could change the structure of school levies, including possible changes to the uniform levy, management fund limits and the residential rollback. The presenter cautioned that those proposals remain unresolved and that state-level changes would shift revenue responsibilities between local levies and state aid.

The board adopted the budget by motion and roll call. The board’s formal action allows staff to file the certified budget with county officials and to move forward on the district’s 2025-26 financial plans.

Ending: The district will proceed with the adopted levy and certified budget pending any material changes required by final state action; the board’s packet and the budget summary remain available as the official record for the adoption.