District finance director outlines 2025 levy request; board schedules Truth in Taxation hearing

Wendy, the district finance presenter, detailed how the 2025 tax levy is calculated and why the board must hold a Truth in Taxation hearing after the proposed request exceeded statutory limitations on prior-year extension.

She said the levy is the district's primary revenue source, accounting for about 60 percent of total revenue, and explained key terms: the levy is the district’s request, the extension is the amount actually received subject to limits, EAV is equalized assessed valuation, CPI determines allowable increases for PTELL (Property Tax Extension Limitation Law), and the limiting rate allocates the levy across funds.

Wendy reported last year’s extension at about $38,261,000 and said a 2.9 percent CPI would allow an estimated extension on existing EAV of approximately $39,370,000. The administration proposed asking for a levy of about $42,000,000—reflecting an assumed $45,000,000 in new property plus a $1,000,000 add-on—meaning the requested levy would exceed a 5 percent extension threshold and therefore require a Truth in Taxation hearing.

Board members asked for clarification about the difference between asking for the levy and the amount the district actually receives. The superintendent and finance presenter emphasized that new property drives the amount the district can realize without increasing an individual property owner’s tax rate and noted recent EAV increases from county reassessments.

Following that presentation, the board voted to set a Truth in Taxation hearing for Dec. 17, 2025, to provide the required public notice and opportunity for comment before adopting a final levy.