Bellevue Board of Education members voted unanimously Aug. 4 to publish public hearing notices for the proposed 2025–26 budget of $137,265,112 and gave the board treasurer, in consultation with the superintendent, authority to make year‑end transfers to close out fiscal 2024–25.

District staff member Susan Brooks told the board “the budget total has not changed” from the proposal presented last month and asked permission to publish hearing notices so public hearings can be held Sept. 8 and the county hearing on Sept. 18.

Why it matters: The package includes the district’s primary spending plan and the levies that determine local property‑tax bills. Brooks said the district expects roughly 40% of receipts from taxation and about 48% from state aid, including special‑education reimbursements, making those state receipts and levy calculations central to local taxpayer impact.

Brooks presented the revenue and expense breakdown, saying the proposed budget increase is small: she cited both about 3.1% and about 2.8% at different points in the presentation depending on the line items. She said roughly 68% of spending is concentrated in instruction and special education, with another portion for pupil support and building operations. She also noted that special‑education reimbursements are written as reimbursement on prior‑year spending and that state aid has shown little sustained growth under current formulas.

On levies, Brooks said the district’s estimated levy figures were based on valuation estimates available in March and will be finalized when certified values are released. She said the general‑fund levy would fall by “about a penny and a half” under the estimate and that the “total levy would drop from a dollar 16 … to a dollar $14.05 4” as presented to the board. Brooks cautioned estimated levies could shift when the county certifies values.

Board members asked for public‑facing materials explaining levy mechanics and valuation effects; Brooks said she will prepare hearing notices and outreach for September. She also explained the district’s cash‑flow needs, noting payroll can be roughly $10,000,000 in a month and that the district uses cash reserves to cover timing gaps. She said the district has used cash reserves in recent years and that last year the drawdown was roughly $3,000,000, though that amount can change after the audit.

Year‑end transfers and food service: The board also granted staff authority to make routine year‑end budget transfers. Brooks said food service is expected to require a transfer to restore its cash balance to zero and confirmed the board will consider those transfers as part of the year‑end close process. She said the district will modestly raise paid lunch prices by 10¢ to help cover rising costs and that families with unpaid lunch balances should contact Mary Hansen to arrange crediting or donations.

Formal actions recorded at the meeting were limited to publishing hearing notices and granting transfer authority; the board did not adopt the final budget at this meeting. Brooks said the board will open and close the public hearings on Sept. 8, present the budget at the county hearing on Sept. 18, and consider final approval at a special board meeting expected Sept. 22, with the county filing due on the 30th.

Board vote: The motion to publish the hearing notices and proceed with the proposed budget hearing schedule passed unanimously. The separate motion granting the treasurer, in consultation with the superintendent, authority to make necessary year‑end transfers also passed unanimously.