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USD 261 Haysville board authorizes exceeding revenue-neutral tax rate for 2025–26
Summary
The USD 261 Haysville Board of Education adopted Resolution 09082025 on Sept. 8, 2025, authorizing a property tax levy that exceeds the revenue neutral rate for the 2025–26 budget; the motion passed by a 7–0 roll-call vote following a staff explanation and no public comment.
The Board of Education of USD 261 Haysville voted unanimously Sept. 8, 2025, to adopt a resolution authorizing the district to levy property taxes that exceed the state-calculated revenue neutral rate to finance its 2025–26 budget.
Craig Ryan, assistant superintendent of finance, told the board the decision reflected a statutory requirement that leaves the district levying 20 mills despite a revenue-neutral calculation that would be lower. "Last year our general fund taxes were about $3,100,000 at 20 mills," Ryan said. "To hit that exact number again this year the revenue neutral rate would be 17.855, but state law requires a levy of 20 mills, which means we will exceed the revenue neutral rate." He asked the board to approve exceeding the revenue neutral rate for the coming budget year.
After a brief public-comment period in which no patrons spoke, an unnamed board member moved to adopt Resolution 09082025, which the motion described as "a resolution expressing the property taxation policy of USD 261 Haysville with respect to exceeding the revenue neutral tax rate for financing the annual budget for 2025–26," and cited KSA 79-2988 as the statutory authority referenced in the resolution text. A second was recorded and the board conducted a roll-call vote. Board members Bane, Bennett, Finister, Grama, Walter, White and Williams voted yes; the presiding officer announced the motion carried 7–0.
The resolution, as read at the meeting, states that the Board of Education held a hearing on Sept. 8, 2025 allowing interested taxpayers an opportunity to give oral testimony and that, after hearing testimony, the board finds it necessary to adopt the 2025–26 budget with a levy that exceeds the revenue neutral rate as adjusted under KSA 79-2988.
The board concluded the special meeting after the vote. Officials did not specify the dollar impact on an average homeowner's tax bill at the meeting, nor did they provide a final certified levy number during the session. The district schedules its next meeting at 6:30 p.m., according to the meeting record.
