Omaha Public Schools board approves 4% override, adopts 2025–26 budget and property tax requests

The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education on Oct. 6 approved a 4% override of the state growth cap and adopted multiple 2025–26 budgets and property tax requests that the district says will direct the bulk of new funding to staff compensation and transportation.

Board President Erdenberger and board members approved seven linked resolutions to set property tax requests and budgets after presentations from Superintendent Matt Ray and Chief Financial Officer Shane Ryan.

The board adopted a resolution authorizing a 4% increase above the base growth percentage in the district's property tax request. Shane Ryan, chief financial officer, told the board the proposed budgets “allow our district to maintain momentum in staff recruitment and retention with 60% of the proposed general fund budget increase going directly towards staff compensation and benefits.” Ryan said the proposed levy increase of 2.2 cents follows last year’s 11-cent reduction and would leave the district’s total levy “the second lowest total levy rate this century.”

The boar…