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Ralston finance staff give 10,000‑foot budget overview; district sees state-aid boost from paperwork corrections and expects levy near last year’s level
Summary
At the June 20 board meeting staff gave an initial 2025–26 budget overview, saying property tax authority rose but that state-aid adjustments and local enrollment changes mean the district expects to hold the levy near last year’s level and is unlikely to need an LB644 ("pink postcard") hearing, barring late changes.
District finance staff provided a high-level 2025–26 budget overview at the June 20 Ralston Public Schools Board meeting, outlining the factors behind a projected 4.3% overall budget increase and saying the district is not currently planning to take part in an LB644 ("pink postcard") hearing unless values change significantly.
State aid and option enrollments - Staff said the district recovered 58 additional students after reconciling interdistrict paperwork; the presenter said that change “actually translates to, I think it's $575,000 in additional state aid.” That adjustment is preliminary and staff said part of it may be cut back once final corrections are applied.
Why this matters: state aid changes and real-growth calculations affect how much of the budget must be raised locally and whether the district needs to ask the state for permission to increase its property tax request.
Main budget drivers summarized by staff - Staffing costs were the largest factor: the certified staff salary change included a $1,000 base increase (about 2.6% on base), but many teachers experienced greater increases because of the salary schedule. Insurance was noted as a roughly 5.5% increase. - The district expects to levy for approximately half of a previously planned special building fund amount this year for roofing projects; the remainder will be covered from fund balances as projects wind down. - Staff said the district's property tax authority rose (roughly an 8% change in the authority figure), and trustees were asked to consider an additional 5% authority as an “insurance policy” though staff said there is no intention to use it unless needed.
LB644 / "pink postcard" and timeline - Staff said the so-called pink postcard hearing is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 17 and that certified property valuations will be finalized around Aug. 20–21. Staff said the district currently expects to avoid participation in the LB644 hearing unless certified values or other assumptions change.
Next steps - Finance staff said the presentation was the "10,000-foot view" and that the board will see more detailed budget hearings in the coming weeks as valuations and state certifications firm up. Trustees were told staff will continue refining numbers and present more detail during the public hearings.
Ending: The board did not take any immediate budget votes at the meeting; staff asked the board to keep focus on the bottom-line totals and scheduled follow-up budget hearings.
