Norfolk Public Schools board approves $70.8 million 2025-26 budget and sets tax request

The Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the district's 2025-26 budget and a property tax request that matches that budget, the board said at its meeting.

Merrick Wilson, a district staff presenter, told the board the district's total general fund budget "is set at $70,774,458.40." He also said the special building fund is $3,032,904.25 and a separate fund for larger district projects is set at $6,381,984. The board approved the budget by voice vote after a motion and second; the clerk announced, "Motion carried, 6 0."

The board then approved a resolution required by state statute to set the district's property tax request. The resolution, introduced by staff and read into the record, cites Nebraska Revised Statutes 77-1632 and 77-1633 and sets the 2025-26 tax request at: general fund $35,917,319; bond fund $0; special building fund $808,081; and the qualified capital purpose undertaking fund $7,782,525 (as read into the record). The district told the board the proposed tax rate that would levy the same dollars as last year on the new assessed valuation would be 0.817042 per $100 of assessed value; the district proposes a tax rate of 0.8737 per $100 of assessed value. The resolution will be certified and forwarded to the county clerk on or before Oct. 15, 2025, the board was told.

Board members discussed a line in the budget showing prior-year disbursements and the larger 2025-26 figure; district staff explained the 2025-26 budget figure includes a cash reserve that the district does not anticipate using but must be shown in the appropriation.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes of previous meetings and routine items): Motion by Tom Stanton; second by Patty (surname not specified). Outcome: approved, 6-0. - 2025-26 Norfolk Public Schools budget: Motion to approve by Patty (surname not specified); second by Tom Stanton. Outcome: approved, 6-0. Key figures read into the record by district staff: general fund $70,774,458.40; special building fund $3,032,904.25; projects fund $6,381,984; board was told the operating budget is 4.91% lower than last year after revenue changes. - 2025-26 property tax request resolution (required by Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-1632 and 77-1633): Motion by Patty (surname not specified); second by Steve (surname not specified). Outcome: approved, 6-0. Tax request totals read into the record and certification due to county clerk by 10/15/2025.

Why this matters The adopted general fund finances the district's day-to-day operations, including staff compensation, transportation, utilities and maintenance. The tax resolution establishes how much property-tax revenue the district will request from county authorities to support the adopted budget and begins the formal certification process required under state law.

Background and next steps Board materials and a public budget workshop and hearing were held before the vote; the presenter said the 2025-26 budget has not changed since the public workshop and hearing earlier in the budget process. The tax resolution and required proofs of publication will be forwarded to the county clerk by Oct. 15, 2025, as prescribed by statute. The board set no additional conditions or amendments to the budget or tax request at the meeting.

(Procedural note: vote tallies were announced as a single roll-call result; individual member votes were not named in the public record provided.)