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Interim finance director recommends flat levy; estimates district tax rate near 4.21
Summary
Interim business and finance director Gary Lewis recommended a flat levy similar to last year to maintain revenue parity, projected an estimated tax rate near 4.21, and noted substantial working-cash and life-safety balances; the board received the preliminary levy for display and future action.
Gary Lewis, interim director of business and finance, presented a preliminary 2025 levy calculation and recommended holding a flat levy (matching last year) so the district would not ask for more revenue while preserving fund balances.
Lewis said the district sits on roughly $33.1 million in working-cash balances and about $1.5 million in life-safety reserves and is proposing not to levy into the working cash this cycle to hold balances steady. He projected an estimated school tax rate of roughly 4.21, a decrease from the prior final rate of 4.46, in part because one of the district's older bonds will be paid off this December.
Lewis also explained a bond abatement of about $180,000 is included in the calculations and walked through capped and uncapped levy components (e.g., Education Fund at a locked rate). He emphasized the district is not asking for additional revenue and that actual taxpayer impact depends on county assessor valuations.
Board members asked how the change would affect individual tax bills and Lewis replied that assessment levels determine the final bill and the district cannot control house assessments. Lewis said the levy sheet will be on display for the required 20 days and legal documents will follow for board action at a future meeting.
