Ontario SD 8C adopts 2025–26 budget and keeps property tax rate at 3.9293
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Summary
The board adopted the 2025–26 budget, approved related resolutions and imposed a property tax rate of 3.9293; staff said property taxes bring roughly $5 million to the district and the budget includes two recently awarded state grants.
The Ontario SD 8C School District board adopted the 2025–26 budget and related appropriations and tax resolutions at its regular meeting.
The board approved the budget after the public hearing was opened and closed with no public comment. Resolutions passed included the formal appropriation (Resolution 24-16), imposition and categorization of the tax (Resolution 24-17/20-17 in the record) and a policy on ending fund balances (Resolution 24-18). Board members voted in favor of the motions during a voice vote.
Key details: district staff said the voter-imposed property tax rate will remain at 3.9293 — a rate the board indicated has not changed since 1991 — and that property taxes at that rate generate roughly $5,000,000 in revenue for the district. The business manager told the board the adopted budget includes two state grants added since the budget committee meeting, one for $300,000 and another for $340,000; apart from those additions staff said the proposal remains substantially the same as the committee-recommended budget.
Why it matters: adopting the budget sets spending authority for the coming fiscal year and locks in tax and fund-balance policies. Board members noted the district maintains a sizable balance in the Oregon investment pool and that careful cash management helped mitigate fiscal pressure other districts are experiencing.
Board action and next steps: A board member moved and seconded the motion to adopt the 2025–26 budget; the motion carried on a voice vote. The district will publish the adopted budget documents and proceed with the fiscal-year implementation steps outlined in the budget resolution.
