Johnson County launches online student payments; budget update shows property-tax receipts slightly above forecast

District business staff told the Johnson County Board of Education on Aug. 14 that the district’s online student payments system has gone live and will allow parents to pay for items such as fundraisers and yearbooks; the cafeteria is excluded.

The district will load items into the new system gradually, and staff said they will distribute a parent-facing “cheat sheet” through Facebook and other channels to explain how to use the portal.

At the same meeting the board received preliminary closing information for fiscal 2025. Business staff reported that property tax collections realized $2,539,945.50 and that property-tax revenue came in at about 103.4% of the budgeted amount. The staff member presenting said some revenue remains to be recorded and the final carryover figure had not been posted.

The packet also included comparisons of local option sales and property tax collections showing a notable year-over-year increase in sales tax for July. Staff said the district maintains a set of reserves and encumbrances for the 2025–26 budget and that, if needed, some items such as school-supply support would be funded from those reserves.

Board discussion noted the district intends to continue providing school supplies to families, a practice the district started earlier in the summer and plans to continue from district reserves.

Board members were invited to contact business office staff with follow-up questions; staff offered to provide detailed line-item explanations on request.