Burlington board holds public hearing on proposed property tax levy as residents press for budget transparency

The Burlington Community School District on March 31 held a public hearing required by its certified budget notice on a proposed property tax levy for the 2025-26 fiscal year, hearing from district staff and two residents who urged greater transparency and spending reductions.

Rick Reynolds, district staff member presenting the budget notice, told the board that the district is proposing a levy of just under $16 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for next year. Reynolds said the main drivers are changes in assessed valuation and factors outside the district's direct control: the state sets most revenue per student, and the district's levy rate is the result of dividing its state-determined per-pupil revenue by local assessed valuation. He said the county increased assessed valuation for a hospital in 2024, then that assessment was appealed and reduced; as a result the district missed roughly $2 million in tax collections in 2024 and will not receive that money this year, which Reynolds said is a major reason for the proposed increase.

The hearing drew two speakers from the public. Resident Steve Van Zantra said he understood the role valuations play but urged the board to "take actions to mitigate costs, reduce your own cost structure" rather than pass increases on to taxpayers. "I want to feel more secure about ... what we're getting from my $500 a year for taxes that's being spent wisely," Van Zantra said.

Resident Greg Mangold asked the board for clearer public budget documents and more opportunities for review by department heads, saying a budget summary showing revenues, expenditures and use of fund balance would improve transparency. "I think it would be advantageous for transparency if there were ... a public budget that outlined your sources of proposed expenditures and revenues and also use of fund balance," Mangold said.

Board members did not engage in back-and-forth during the hearing; the board's public-hearing rules and the hearing notice say directors are present to receive comments and may address issues at a future meeting. After public comment the board voted to adjourn the hearing; no final adoption of the certified budget took place at the March 31 meeting. Reynolds reminded the public that the district may adopt its certified budget by April 30, the statutory deadline set out in the public notice.

The board did not take a final levy vote during the hearing; any final levy rate and budget adoption will be recorded in a future meeting notice.