North Platte Public Schools previews preliminary 2025–26 budget, highlights state-aid, valuation and reserve considerations

The North Platte Public Schools Board of Education heard a detailed presentation on the district’s preliminary 2025–26 budget during a work session focused on state aid, property valuations and cash reserves.

The presentation, led by staff member Kevin Stewart, emphasized that “the budget is only a tool to help the district accomplish its strategic plan,” and walked the board through TEOSA (the state aid formula), enrollment trends, special education reimbursements, poverty allowances and projected property‑tax supported funds.

Why it matters: Board members were warned that shifting property valuations and how the state applies TEOSA can materially change the district’s state aid and local tax burden. Staff urged the board to weigh using building‑fund receipts from recent property sales and tentative valuation estimates to grow the district’s cash reserve instead of increasing taxes.

Stewart and other administrators explained the TEOSA drivers the board must watch. Staff reported the district has lost about $1.4 million in state aid over roughly five years tied largely to valuation changes and local effort rates. Stewart also described how TEOSA separates needs and…