Superintendent outlines district funding mix and legislative items under watch

The superintendent provided the Kearney R‑I School District Board with an overview of local and state fiscal issues and identified specific legislation district administrators are monitoring.

On federal funding, the superintendent said the district receives roughly 3% of its revenue from federal sources — primarily special education, child nutrition and federal program dollars — and sought to correct public reports that had overstated federal funding’s share of the district budget. The superintendent cautioned that while federal funding changes are watched, the district is more affected by state budget decisions.

At the state level, the superintendent said the governor’s proposed budget includes a possible flat funding recommendation for schools and referenced a proposal (House Bill 711) that would expand open enrollment and voucher programs; the board was told that participation in any open‑enrollment voucher program would be a district option and that state money would follow students, while local revenue would remain with the sending district. The superintendent also noted the district is monitoring Senate Bill 727 (referenced as last year’s omnibus bill) and Senate Bill 190, which creates a senior citizen tax credit that can cap revenue increases for eligible owners during reassessment years and could limit district revenue growth in reassessment years for homeowners 62 and older.

The superintendent reiterated that the district is watching the legislative session and the budget process and expects additional clarity around May 9 (timeline cited for when state budget actions affecting schools may be finalized). District staff recommended continued monitoring and planning for potential impacts to collective bargaining, contracted services and utilities.