Derby Board adopts $154.8 million budget, votes to exceed revenue-neutral rate

The Derby Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt the district’s 2025-26 budget of $154,752,309 and approved a resolution to levy property taxes that exceed the state-calculated revenue-neutral rate.

The action formalizes a mill levy of 57.491 for the district for fiscal year 2025-26 and sets the local option budget (LOB) at 31 percent. The board also recorded that the Derby Recreation Commission (DRC) will levy 7.53 mills for 2025-26, a 0.25-mill increase noted in the budget materials.

Board members cited state law in adopting the levy. Pam Kelly, director of finance, read the resolution, saying the measure was taken “with respect to exceeding the revenue neutral tax rate for financing the annual budget for 2025-26.” The resolution text referenced KSA 79-2988 as the statutory provision covering levy procedures.

The board debated the DRC increase during the budget conversation. One member said rising property valuations already are increasing tax bills for many residents, especially seniors on fixed incomes, and called it “inconsistent and unfair” for the recreation commission to raise its levy while the school and city have reduced rates in recent years. Another board member noted the board’s limited authority over the DRC levy, saying the commission operates under a separate resolution from 2007 and that challenges to the DRC levy are outside the school board’s control.

The formal votes were unanimous. During roll call on the revenue-neutral-rate resolution and the budget adoption, the board recorded votes in favor by Mark Beline, Tonya Giacobucci, Michael Blankenship, Kathy Moody, Robin Pearman, Melanie Turner and Jennifer Neal.

Pam Kelly told the board the budget includes interfund transfers and that the local option budget is calculated at 31 percent. She also said the DRC levy increase is allowable under the prior resolution passed in 2007, which sets the commission’s maximum levy authority.

Board members said they considered the district’s needs-assessment and state-assessment results while preparing the budget. With the state’s assessment methodology changing this year (discussed separately by district staff), administrators characterized the 2025-26 assessments as a baseline for future comparisons.

Votes at a glance - Resolution to exceed revenue-neutral rate (text read into record referencing KSA 79-2988): passed 7-0 (Mark Beline; Tonya Giacobucci; Michael Blankenship; Kathy Moody; Robin Pearman; Melanie Turner; Jennifer Neal). Motion/second not specified in the record. - 2025-26 district budget, $154,752,309: passed 7-0. - Local option budget percentage set at 31%: passed 7-0. - Other routine action votes at the meeting (cost-per-mile for buses, child nutrition procurement plan, virtual school handbook): each passed 7-0 (see formal minutes for motion/second details).

Administration said legal counsel reviewed levy limits and the DRC increase. No formal challenge to the DRC levy was taken by the board at the meeting; board members urged constituents with concerns to contact the entity responsible for the DRC levy.

The board adjourned after concluding the budget and related resolutions.