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Sto-Rox previews 2025–26 budget, flags possible tax increase up to index
Summary
District staff presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget showing revenues roughly 77% collected and expenses about 51% spent; leaders flagged rising costs — including a potential 500% electricity capacity charge — and said the board may budget for a real-estate tax increase up to the index pending further analysis.
Sto-Rox School District staff delivered a preliminary 2025–26 budget presentation and warned board members the district may need to budget for a real-estate tax increase up to the legal index as the financial-recovery process continues.
Miss Wagner, who led the presentation, said the district’s revenues were “currently at 77% of our budget, and our expenses are at about 51% spent, as of January 31.” She listed revenue items that staff expect to affect planning, including carryover Title IV funds (about $700,000 expected to be spent in 2025–26), $1.7 million in Ready to Learn funds, and a conservative Basic Education projection of $16.2 million.
Wagner said the board approved a January resolution not to raise taxes above the index but added the recovery plan could require raising taxes to the index during the budgeting process. “You also may recall… the board voted a resolution that we will not raise taxes over the index,” she said, and later summarized staff’s approach as preparing for an increase up to the index while bringing clearer numbers to future meetings.
On the expense side, Wagner flagged several upward pressures: charter-school tuition, a projected 9% increase in health-care benefits and a potential sharp jump in electricity-related costs tied to a capacity charge that staff said “is subject to that 500% increase.” She said the district is still assessing the capacity-charge exposure and its local impact.
Board discussion mixed caution about tax increases with the need for clear data. One board member said a tax increase is “the hard one” and described the compounding effect of repeated increases, while urging staff to verify grant eligibility and other assumptions before formal decisions are made.
The meeting did not include votes on budget measures. Staff said they will continue collecting data, revisit contract terms for potential savings and bring refined revenue and expense projections to upcoming meetings before any formal action.
What’s next: the district will refine estimates over the coming months, including clearer figures on state basic-ed funding and utility charges, and present recommended budget options and any proposed tax actions for board consideration.
