Cache County School Board approves FY25 final and FY26 tentative budgets; will pursue truth‑in‑taxation for board levy

The Cache County School District Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved the district's final budget for fiscal year 2025 and the proposed original budget for fiscal year 2026, and set in motion a truth‑in‑taxation process for a higher board local levy.

Business Administrator Jared Black presented the budgets and said the district's proposed revenues for 2026 top roughly $440,000,000, while the final budget for 2025 is just over $437,000,000. "Assessed valuation is almost $12,000,000,000," Black said, and noted the district's fall enrollment estimate of 19,762 for K‑12.

The nut graf: the board approved the budgets after months of preparation but will seek voter and public input later this summer because the district is proposing a board local levy above the certified rate. That action would require a public truth‑in‑taxation hearing, scheduled for Aug. 28, to finalize tax rates.

Black told the board the state legislature provided a 4% increase to the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) and an ongoing $14.46 per‑unit increase to the educator salary supplement, raising that supplement to about $10,350. He said federal funding remains uncertain but the district is budgeting conservatively "similar to what they've been previously." Black also reported the district likely will issue remaining bond series this year to complete the current bond program.

On expenditures, Black said there were no increases to the retirement contribution rate but that steps and lane movement for qualifying employees will cost about $1,500,000 next year. He said the district's beginning teacher salary will top $60,000 next year: "our beginning teacher wage this upcoming year would be over $60,000 which is a significant milestone. I think it's $60,825 for a beginning teacher." Salaries and benefits remain the largest share of planned spending.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the WPU, educator supplement, and federal funding. Black explained the WPU is a significant state revenue source but covers under half the district's per‑student cost: "I think we're approaching $4,700 per student, and our total cost for a student is close to $11,000 right now." He also described how new growth in assessed valuation generates additional property tax revenue beyond what a certified tax rate would produce.

The proposed board local levy increase is tied to the state's voted and board guarantee program. Black said the district must bring its combined board and voted levies to a target level the program requires to receive full state funding; he characterized the program as "a huge program for our district," noting the state portion is about $20,000,000. Because the district is proposing a board levy above the certified tax rate, the board must hold a truth‑in‑taxation hearing; the business office has tentatively scheduled that hearing for Aug. 28.

Black also reported a favorable shift in the district's debt levy: he said the debt service levy will drop to $12.67 from the roughly $20.25 rate at the time the bond passed, a reduction he said keeps a prior public assurance intact.

Action: Alan Gruenig moved to approve the final FY25 budget and the proposed original FY26 budget; Roger Pulsipher seconded. The board voted electronically and the measure passed unanimously.

The board's adoption of these budget documents is procedural finalization of the district's spending plan; the tax‑rate decision that triggers public notification and comment will occur at the truth‑in‑taxation hearing in August.

Looking ahead, Black said the district will post the budget documents on the district website and continue monitoring legislative and federal funding changes that could require later adjustments.