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Hiawatha school board adopts alternate budget plan, sets mill levy at 49.343
Summary
The Hiawatha School Board voted to adopt an alternate budget plan that sets an overall mill levy at 49.343; the board debated balancing rising property valuations and taxpayer impacts while staff noted a required Local Option Budget percentage of 31% for 2025–26.
The Hiawatha School Board voted to adopt an alternate budget plan Wednesday that sets the district—s overall mill levy at 49.343, after a lengthy discussion about rising property valuations and the tax burden on residents.
Board members and attendees spent roughly an hour debating whether to move the mill levy all the way back to historical levels or to phase increases more slowly. Board member Mitch moved the motion to adopt the superintendent—s alternate budget, saying, "I move to accept the budget as presented with the exception of the mill levy being at 49.3." The motion passed; the transcript records the result as "Motion passed 4 to" but does not provide a complete opposing-vote tally in the record available.
Staff earlier told the board that state law requires adoption of a resolution establishing the Local Option Budget (LOB) percentage for the coming school year. The record references a resolution (identified in the meeting as Resolution 2608) that sets an LOB percentage of 31% for the 2025-26 school year.
During discussion, board members noted that property valuations in the district have risen markedly in recent years, increasing homeowners— tax bills even when the mill rate is unchanged. Speakers urged the board to weigh the district—s capital needs—including aging HVAC systems and other facility repairs—against the impact of near-term tax increases on families. One board member highlighted the district—s recent capital outlay spending and the continuing need for facility investment; another said keeping the increase smaller this year might make it harder to finance a future bond.
Several members described the chosen mill levy as a compromise intended to ease the immediate tax impact while moving the district toward what some described as a historically typical level for capital outlay funding.
The board—s vote adopted the alternate budget plan as moved. The transcript records the motion as having passed with four affirmative votes; the number of dissenting votes was not fully specified in the available record.
The board did not adopt a separate bond or capital project at the meeting; members discussed that a future bond measure would face public scrutiny given recent increases in tax bills.
Board members said staff will incorporate the board—s direction into budget documents and follow required statutory steps to finalize the budget and any associated resolutions.
