Cedar Rapids school board holds public hearing on FY2026 certified budget; resident warns rightsizing could harm at‑risk students

The Cedar Rapids Community School district Board of Education held a special meeting April 7, 2025, and conducted a public hearing on the district's proposed fiscal year 2026 certified budget. Business-services staff member Carla presented the budget assumptions and projections; one public commenter, Kaylee Muhlbauer, told the board the district's rightsizing model would harm at‑risk students.

Carla said the district is “using a 2% supplemental state aid rate, for the certified budget,” and reviewed how that assumption affects projected new money, enrollment impacts and the property-tax rate. She told the board the notice published in the Gazette on March 26 showed a current estimated tax rate of $13.65 and referred to a maximum tax-rate notice of $13.84. Carla said the district is estimating about $2,400,000 in unadjusted new money under a 2%…