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Beatrice Public Schools previews 2025–26 proposed budget; tax levy to fall amid higher valuations
Summary
Business staff presented a proposed 2025–26 budget, explained the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunity Support (TOSA) framework, and said LB243 changes and falling “real growth” will reduce state aid; the district does not plan to exceed statutory taxing authority this year.
Alec Manson, district staff (budget presenter), delivered a budget preview to the Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education April 25, outlining the proposed 2025–26 operating budget, the impact of valuation changes and recent state law changes on school funding.
Manson described the presentation as a proposed budget that will be followed by a formal budget hearing and tax hearing at the September meeting. “This is a proposed budget,” he said, adding the hearings will include public notice and opportunities for comment.
Manson reviewed enrollment and funding mechanics. The district’s October/September count used for state aid was 2,112 for the current year, up from 2,102 the prior year, he said. The district’s funding relies on the TOSA framework (Tax Equity and Educational Opportunity Support), which Manson described in broad terms as “needs minus resources,” with state aid intended to make up the difference.
Manson told trustees that legislative changes tied to LB243 (2023) affect how “real growth” is calculated. He said real growth — the valuation increase counted for aid purposes — dropped substantially this cycle to $8,741,746 from earlier totals of roughly $18–19 million: “This year, it's cut nearly…53% to 8,741,000,” he said, and attributed the fall in part to the legislature removing tax‑increment financing (TIF) projects from the real‑growth calculation.
The presenter gave budget figures and tax requests the board will publish in hearing notices. Highlights he provided:
- Total adjusted general fund disbursements are based on a 3.5% certification growth and the district’s computations yielded a general‑fund operating expenditure figure of $34,780,887 when allowable special education budgets are included. - Beginning cash balance is estimated at about $8.5 million; other state and federal revenues were estimated at roughly $6.7 million; current‑year state aid is nearly $1 million lower than last year, Manson said. - The district’s general fund property tax request is shown as $14,536,120; total all‑fund tax request (including bonded purposes) was presented as $17,369,817. - The district expects the overall levy rate to decline because assessed valuations rose: Manson said the total levy will move from 99.7¢ to 91.2¢ (an 8.4¢ reduction). He presented component rates: general fund from 84¢ to 77¢; building fund from 12.7¢ to 11.6¢; QCPUF (quality capital purpose undertaking fund) from 2.3¢ to 2.4¢.
Manson explained the district has a QCPUF bullet payment of about $1.7 million due in December, which requires budgeting room and affects the QCPUF levy. He noted that although the district’s tax‑request dollars may rise in some categories, the rate moved lower this year because valuations rose.
On board authority to exceed taxing limits, Manson said the board has the option to exceed statutory taxing authority but he does not expect the board will need to this year.
The presentation concluded with Manson offering to release slides for public review and invited questions. The transcript does not record a formal vote on the proposed budget or a tax levy at this meeting; Manson said the board will hold the required hearings and adopt resolutions at a later meeting.
