Board opens and adopts 2026 budget-related hearings, bus-replacement and capital projects plans

On Sept. 9 the Beech Grove school board conducted required public hearings and approved several budget- and capital-related items for 2026.

Board members opened an additional appropriation ordinance hearing to account for two prior common school loans whose first payments were due in 2025; the board moved to open the hearing and approved the action by voice vote.

The board also opened and then closed the 2026 budget hearing after the administration reported there were no public comments. During the budget overview, administration said assessed values had increased and recent legislation removed a 3% cap on fund increases, which is expected to yield a modest rise in property-tax revenue for 2026. The administration said there were no planned new bonds or leases for 2026 and that transfers from the education fund to the operations fund would continue to compensate for circuit-breaker impacts.

In a separate, related action, the board adopted the 2026 bus replacement plan. The motion referenced the district’s five-year plan to replace two buses each year; it was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board then opened the capital projects hearing and adopted the 2026 capital projects plan, a three-year program that includes equipment, technology and safety work across buildings. The motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

All voice votes were recorded as unanimous on the transcript (responses of "Aye" with no recorded opposition), and public comment for the budget and bus hearings was reported as none.

The board’s formal approvals satisfy necessary hearing and adoption steps ahead of final budget and tax-rate calculations with the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF).