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Board debates levy timing amid uncertainty over House Bill 96 vetoes; schedules special meeting
Summary
Board members discussed potential effects of House Bill 96 vetoes on emergency and substitute levies and scheduled a special meeting to allow the district options on levy timing ahead of August deadlines.
Board members discussed state budget‑bill vetoes and House Bill 96 and considered whether to convert two expiring emergency levies into substitute levies to preserve resident rollback protections and guard against changes that could bar levy renewals after Jan. 1, 2026.
The board discussed the uncertain legislative calendar and an expected attempt to override vetoes in late July. District staff and the board described the risk that if the vetoes are overridden and language in House Bill 96 takes effect, the district could lose the option to renew certain levies under the current timeline. As a result, board members said they wanted to preserve options to place a substitute levy on the November ballot if necessary.
The board's finance discussion explained the practical constraints: to qualify for a November vote a district must file a first resolution by the county by the August 6 deadline and then take a second certification vote later. Staff summarized the timetable: the county auditor must certify millage and that requires several weeks between votes. Board members said converting two emergency levies would affect roughly $6 million of the district's revenue base — roughly 15% — and that preserving rollback provisions for residents was a factor in considering a conversion.
Board members discussed special‑meeting logistics and agreed to schedule a special meeting for Wednesday, July 16 at 4:45 p.m. to consider a first resolution that would preserve the option of a November substitution should the legislature override vetoes. The board asked legal counsel to prepare language and scenarios for the special meeting and said the first vote would preserve options rather than commit the district to a November levy if the legislative picture changes.
Board members cited three primary concerns: protecting the rollback provisions that voters in the district currently receive; the timing constraints tied to county certification deadlines; and the potential for the legislature to revisit vetoed budget provisions in a special session or an override vote. The superintendent and staff said attorneys are preparing analyses of scenarios and that the district will monitor state action and advise the board before the July 16 meeting.
