Box Elder board approves tax increase to fund schools, teacher pay; vote 5-1

The Box Elder School District Board of Education voted 5-1 on July 9 to approve a proposed 2025 tax rate, the district—s 2025—6 fiscal-year budget and the 2025—6 salary schedules presented by district staff.

The move follows a two-hour budget presentation by Business Administrator Neil Stevens and a three-hour public hearing in which more than 70 residents, teachers, students and staff addressed the board on the proposal. "Our fiscal year goes from July 1 through June 30," Stevens told the board as he walked through revenues, fund balances and the district's capital and debt outlook.

The vote will raise local property-tax collections to restore revenue the district loses automatically under Utah—s truth-in-taxation procedures and to fund a package of projects and pay increases the district says are needed now. Board members Wade Hyde, Julie Taylor, Tiffany Summers, Danielle Wright and Stephanie DePhillips voted yes; Karen Cronin voted no. Board member Brian Smith was absent and did not vote.

Why the board acted: Stevens and other district officials told the board that a confluence of factors has squeezed the budget. Those include rising compensation costs and health insurance, utility increases tied to new building air-conditioning loads and higher Rocky…