Gary Lewis, interim director of business and finance, briefed the board on the district's preliminary 2025 tax levy and recommended a flat levy approach designed to capture estimated available revenue without increasing the amount asked from taxpayers.

Lewis said the AV (assessed valuation) increase he used in early calculations was 5.89% and that the district's working cash balance sits near $33.1 million. He explained the difference between capped funds (those with locked rates from past referenda) and uncapped funds like Social Security and retirement liabilities. "We're looking at about a $4.21 tax rate," Lewis said as an estimate that reflects bond schedules and a bond coming off this December.

Board members asked what this would mean for individual tax bills; Lewis replied that it depends on property assessments. "We're not asking for any more money," he said, adding that while the rate is an estimate, assessors' numbers have been close historically. He also noted an abatement of about $180,000 factored into bond payment calculations and that Chapman and Cutler will prepare the formal resolution for the abatement.

Discussion flagged that fund balances have decreased and one board member noted roughly a $1,000,000 decline that should be monitored, but members also praised the strong fund balances and federal/state dollars that supported the district this year.

No levy vote was taken tonight; Lewis said the levy paperwork will be on display for 20 days and the board will see a resolution next month.