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Southeast Polk board adopts FY2026 certified budget, sets composite tax rate cap at 15.44253
Summary
The Southeast Polk Community School District board adopted its FY2026 certified budget after a brief public hearing with no speakers and a roll-call approval setting the district's composite tax rate no higher than $15.44253 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The Southeast Polk Community School District Board of Directors adopted the district's certified budget for fiscal year 2025-26 and set the district's composite tax rate at no higher than $15.44253 per $1,000 of assessed valuation following a public hearing at which no members of the public spoke.
The board opened a required public hearing for the FY2026 certified budget, noting the notice to residents lists the maximum total property taxes the district may adopt and that state law requires adoption of the certified budget by April 30. The hearing record was left open for any written comments; none were recorded and the board closed the hearing before taking action. Kevin Bacom, district chief financial officer, told the board the budget was prepared with an expectation of 3% supplemental state aid but the certified levy was set assuming 2% and staff would adjust fund-level allocations if the final state aid figure differs.
Why it matters: the certified budget and tax-rate cap set the district's legal maximum property-tax revenues for next year and drive local revenue planning for operations, staffing and capital. The board's action fixes the district's composite tax-rate ceiling so administrators can finalize spending plans and, if state aid changes, reallocate within funds rather than exceed the adopted levy.
During the hearing and approval, CFO Kevin Bacom summarized the staffing of the estimate and the draft levy, saying, “the budget was prepared with a 3% supplemental state aid. The budget in this acknowledgement is prepared to set our maximum tax rate for next year with the 2% rather than 3%... We will adjust the dollars within certain funds to stay no higher than the amount proposed at $15.44253 per thousand.” Board members then moved, seconded and approved the budget by roll-call.
Board action (motion and vote): the motion to approve the FY2026 certified budget as proposed, setting the composite tax rate at no higher than $15.44253 per $1,000, passed by roll call with all voting members recorded as "yes." No abstentions or no votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.
Background and context: board materials noted that the certified levy must be set as part of the district's certified budget process and that the board secretary was directed to enter written public comments into the hearing record. The CFO noted the proposed levy represents a long-term downward change compared with prior years, and district documents referenced a reduction of the tax rate since 2012 (described in board remarks as a roughly 30% reduction since 2012). The district will finalize the budget document and file it consistent with state requirements.
Looking ahead: staff said they would adjust fund-level dollars if final supplemental state aid differs from the working assumption; the board can revisit allocations under the existing statutory budget-amendment process if needed.
