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Gateway School District proposes $98.66 million general fund budget, raises real estate millage 1.2034 mills
Summary
The Gateway School District board approved a proposed final general fund budget of $98,658,188 for fiscal year 2025–26 that includes a 1.2034‑mill increase in the district real estate tax rate and the planned use of $836,094 from the unassigned fund balance to balance the budget. Final adoption is scheduled for May 27, 2025.
The Gateway School District board on a roll call approved a proposed final general fund budget for fiscal year 2025–26 totaling $98,658,188, a 4.8% increase in general fund expenditures from the prior year. The proposal includes an increase in the district real estate millage rate from 24.684 mills to 25.2718 mills, a rise of 1.2034 mills. The district said the 25.2718 mills is equivalent to $2,527.18 in annual tax on a $100,000 assessed valuation.
The district reported it will use $836,094 of the unassigned fund balance to balance the 2025–26 general fund. Board materials list the budget as “proposed final”; the board set final adoption for May 27, 2025, and scheduled the next finance meeting for May 15, 2025.
Board members and staff framed the increase against uncertainty in state funding timing. Board members noted state budget schedules differ from the district’s and said delayed state action has in past years forced districts to borrow to meet payroll until state basic education payments began. The board directed staff to draft an advocacy letter to state officials about the timing of state funding and requested that county assessment processes and commercial assessment appeals be addressed as part of that outreach.
During discussion board members asked how the district receives state basic education funds (quarterly distributions were described in board discussion) and whether the district has sufficient liquidity to bridge delayed state funding; district staff said the district has sufficient cash on hand this year but has previously used short‑term borrowing when state approvals were delayed. The board also noted recent commercial assessment appeals have reduced assessed value, and staff said the district’s assessed value dropped by about $29 million from the prior year because of commercial appeals, reducing revenue by roughly $674,000.
Votes at roll call on item 5.1: Missus Burns — Aye; Missus Delaney — Aye; Missus Scott — Aye; Mister Ritter — Aye; Doctor Singh — Aye; Missus Warren — No. Outcome: approved. The board recorded the budget as a proposed final budget to be adopted on May 27, 2025.
The board emphasized the proposal remains subject to final adoption and to updates if state funding figures change before final adoption.
