District staff presented the annual public hearing on the district’s proposed 2026 property tax levy and recommended the board adopt a total levy of $14,855,928.

“The total proposed levy payable 2026 is $14,855,928,” a district staff member said during the hearing and explained most of the year‑over‑year increase is in the debt service fund to cover voter‑approved bonds tied to the Riverview indoor air‑quality project. Staff described a $773,000 net increase, an overall rise of 5.49 percent, and said the debt service fund accounts for the bulk of that change.

Staff told the board the general fund is projecting a roughly $1.1 million year‑to‑date deficit and that approximately $565,000 of the planned spenddown would come from the district’s unassigned fund balance (the district’s fund‑balance policy target is 10 percent). The building construction fund still carries proceeds tied to previously issued bonds, and staff said debt‑service equalization aid rose this year as more bonds became eligible for aid, which partly offsets levy pressure.

Using an example for homeowners, staff said that if a home’s market value remained at $300,000, the school district portion of property taxes would increase by about $21 for the year, which staff described as roughly a 1.45 percent change for that illustrative parcel.

After the hearing the board voted to adopt the levy. The motion to approve the 2025 payable 2026 levy was made by Jen Smith and seconded by Chelsea; the motion carried with no recorded opposition.

Per state and county processes explained at the hearing, counties will use the district’s adopted levy to calculate tax capacities and include the proposed amounts on property tax statements mailed in the fall, and taxpayers who want to contest market value must follow county appeal windows.

The board’s vote completes the district’s required local steps for setting the levy amount for calendar‑year 2026; the district noted the amount sets a starting point for the 2026–27 budget process and that enrollment and other factors will determine final budget choices going forward.