Litchfield board holds public hearing on $2 million adjacent-ways levy; hears FY2026 budget presentation

The Litchfield Elementary School District Governing Board convened a public hearing July 8 on a proposed $2,000,000 adjacent-ways levy to pay for roadway and utility work tied to the construction of Troy Gilbert Elementary School, and heard the district's fiscal year 2026 budget presentation.

District finance staff told the board the levy would fund items such as extending utility lines, sewer connections and finishing a half-street at the new school site. "Adjacent ways revenues are levied for construction projects to pay for improvements needed for the entry and exit onto and off of district property," said Mr. Vaughn, district staff, during the presentation. He said the district is anticipating $2,000,000 of adjacent-ways work in the 2025-26 buildout of Troy Gilbert Elementary and proposed levying $2,000,000 this year "with the intention of leveling the remainder in 2026-27." Vaughn said the levy is expected to cost taxpayers a little more than $11.03 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

Vaughn told the board that state statute requires a public hearing in connection with budget adoption and that the district met the newspaper-publication requirement by advertising in the West Valley View. He said the district will mail the results of the board's action to the Property Tax Oversight Commission and that, before spending adjacent-ways funds, the School Facilities Oversight Board must approve that the projects are eligible for the funding.

Board members asked no follow-up questions during the hearing. Board Member Owens, who moved the motion to convene the public hearing, said he wished the district did not need the levy but described it as a mechanism for funding necessary construction-related work for a new school. Board Member Moran expressed appreciation that the district is spreading the tax burden over time to mitigate the annual impact.

The meeting record shows the board voted to convene the public hearing, later voted to adjourn the public hearing, and subsequently voted to convene an executive session. All three procedural motions passed unanimously. The transcript does not record a formal board vote adopting the adjacent-ways levy or the fiscal year 2026 budget during the portion of the meeting provided; staff presented the proposed budget and several board members said the presentation was unchanged from previous meetings.

"The presentation is the same as was presented at last board meeting. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have," Vaughn said when introducing the FY2026 budget materials. Board members said they had no additional questions, noting they had discussed the budget at prior meetings.

Next steps identified on the record: results of the board action will be mailed to the Property Tax Oversight Commission, and spending of adjacent-ways funds will be contingent on School Facilities Oversight Board approval of project eligibility. No effective levy rate adoption or budget-approval motion is recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

Votes at a glance: Convene public hearing on adjacent-ways levy ' mover: Board Member Owens; second: Board Member Mikes; vote: Wallace ' yes; Mikes ' yes; Owens ' yes; Moran ' yes; Board President ' yes; outcome: passed unanimously. Adjourn public hearing ' mover: Board Member Owens; second: Board Member Wallace; same unanimous outcome. Convene executive session ' mover: Board Member Owens; second: Board Member Mikes; same unanimous outcome.