Tooele School Board adopts FY25 final budget and approves larger FY26 tax increase after debate

The Tooele School District Board of Education approved the district’s final fiscal-year 2025 budget and, after an extended public meeting and board debate, adopted a higher tax package for fiscal year 2026 intended to reduce an ongoing structural shortfall.

The board voted to approve the FY25 final budget as presented. For FY26 the board considered three advertised options: a “no tax increase”/flat-rate option, a mid-level option that would generate $5,170,000 (presented as an average $167.49 change for a $460,000 home), and a larger option to generate $9,250,000. After discussion and two formal motions, the board’s motion to adopt the $5,170,000 option failed; a subsequent motion to adopt the $9,250,000 option carried.

Board business administrator Lark Reynolds presented the budget details and the three FY26 options, explaining how county valuation growth, a one-time county collection adjustment of $5,170,000, and new construction value had affected revenue projections. Reynolds said the district’s adopted FY25 budget had only “minor tweaks” from the prior year and highlighted a roughly $581,000 change tied to food-service costs and large ongoing expenditures for new high-school construction.

Reynolds said taxable value across the county rose substantially this year — from about $7.75 billion to roughly $8.5 billion as presented — and that new growth (new construction added to the tax rolls) was approximately $696.66 million in the latest calculations. He explained that the district’s general (board local) and…