Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Taxes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Derby school board adopts $154.8 million budget, approves levy above revenue-neutral rate
Summary
The Derby Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the 2025-26 budget totaling $154,752,309, approved a resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate under KSA 79-2988 and set the local option budget at 31 percent.
The Derby Board of Education voted 7-0 Sept. 8 to adopt the 2025-26 budget and a companion resolution authorizing a property-tax levy that exceeds the revenue-neutral rate.
Pam Kelly, director of finance, told the board the total district budget for 2025-26 is $154,752,309, including interfund transfers. “For this budget, the local option budget is calculated at 31%,” Kelly said during the meeting. She also reported the district’s total mill levy at 57.491 and said the Derby Recreation Commission mill levy for 2025-26 is 7.53 mills, a 0.25-mill increase from the prior year.
The resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate cited KSA 79-2988 and stated the board had held a public hearing on Sept. 8. The board conducted a roll-call vote after the hearing and recorded seven affirmative votes. The board later voted 7-0 to adopt the full budget as presented.
Why it matters: Adopting the budget and a levy above the revenue-neutral rate sets the district’s tax collection for the year and funds operations, programs and capital needs. The board noted the local option percentage remains below the statewide average; administration recommended a 31% local option percentage for 2025-26.
Supporting details: Kelly said the local option percentage is below the state average of 32.3 percent and confirmed legal counsel had reviewed a separate question about the Recreation Commission’s authority to increase its mill levy under an earlier resolution (identified in the packet as resolution number 2008, June 2007). Board members asked questions about impacts on taxpayers, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, and administrators noted both the needs assessment and state assessments informed budget priorities.
Formal actions: The board approved a resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate (KSA 79-2988) and later adopted the 2025-26 budget and a resolution to set the local option budget percentage at 31%.
What’s next: The district will publish final budget documentation and continue implementing programs funded in the adopted budget.
