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Omaha Public Schools board approves 4% override, adopts 2025–26 budget and property tax requests
Summary
The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education approved a 4% override of state revenue caps and adopted multiple 2025–26 budgets and property tax requests, including a general fund budget that directs most of the increase toward staff compensation.
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 board set the 2025–26 Douglas County School District 1 property tax requests as follows: general fund $310,445,596; bond fund $56,106,242; special fund $10,321,236; and qualified capital purpose undertaking fund $4,300,515. It also set the Educational Service Unit (ESU) No. 19 property tax request at $5,431,641.
In a companion vote, the board approved the district's general fund local operating budget of $850,000,000, supported by tax requirements of $336,476,010, plus reimbursable programs of $100,465,000, for a total general fund budget of $950,465,000. Other non-levy budgets approved included: school lunch $51,861,944; school activities $10,500,000; central stores $4,000,000; depreciation $65,000,000; employee benefits $14,800,000; student fees $1,000,000; contingency $19,100,000; and cooperative $5,500,000. The ESU budget was approved at $30,800,000.
Superintendent Matt Ray said the package also “provides additional funding to maintain improvements in student transportation and allow flexibility in addressing potential reductions in federal grant programs.” The board voted to approve the full slate of resolutions by roll call; each of the budget and property-tax motions recorded seven ayes and passed.
Votes at a glance (budget and property-tax resolutions): - Motion to authorize a 4% increase above the base growth percentage (override): mover Mister Tillman; second Miss Magnuson; roll call: 7 aye; outcome: approved. - Motion to set 2025–26 district property tax requests (general, bond, special, QCPUF amounts as above): mover Dr. Shavona Holman; second Mister Thielen; roll call: 7 aye; outcome: approved. - Motion to set ESU No. 19 property tax request at $5,431,641: mover Miss Magnuson; second Miss Fall; roll call: 7 aye; outcome: approved. - Motion to approve the district general fund local operating budget (total $950,465,000): mover Miss Magnuson; second Mister Thielen; roll call: 7 aye; outcome: approved. - Motion to approve levy-exempt budgets (bond & building funds): mover Mister Thielen; second Miss Magnuson; roll call: 7 aye; outcome: approved. - Motion to approve non-levy budgets (school lunch, activities, etc.): mover Dr. Holman; second Miss Almanza; roll call: 7 aye; outcome: approved. - Motion to approve ESU No. 19 budget ($30,800,000): mover Vice President Snipes; second Mister Thielen; roll call: 7 aye; outcome: approved.
Why it matters: The board framed the package as focused on keeping Omaha Public Schools competitive on staff pay while sustaining transportation and providing flexibility against potential federal funding changes. The votes finalize the district's tax requests that county officials will use in computing property tax bills.
Board members asked several technical questions during the discussion and thanked staff for prior briefings and public hearings. Ryan and Ray noted earlier small-group briefings and a public hearing on Sept. 17 where staff answered community questions about the levy and property valuation process.
Next steps: The adopted budgets and tax requests will be filed with Douglas County for tax-rate computation and placement on next year's property tax roll.
