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District outlines proposed FY26–27 budget and sets public hearings for April 27
Summary
Cedar Falls administrators presented the district's certified budget worksheet and proposed a lower tax rate for FY27 (from $14.52 to $14.11); the board set public hearings for the proposed 2026–27 certified budget and for a 2025–26 budget amendment on April 27.
The Cedar Falls Community School District presented its certified budget calculations on Monday and set two public hearings for April 27 — one to adopt the proposed FY2026–27 budget and another to consider an amendment to the current 2025–26 budget.
Administration reviewed the aid‑and‑levy worksheet, explaining key drivers: certified enrollment (the district cited roughly 5,233 students on the October 1, 2025 count), equalization and supplemental state aid (the state cost per pupil cited at $8,148 for FY27), and balance between local property tax and state aid. The finance presenter said assessed valuation in the district grew about 2.29% from the prior year.
Based on the district’s assumptions (including a mandatory 10% valuation adjustment that appears on the property tax notice), administrators presented a district‑level estimate that levied dollars would rise slightly (from about $35.9M to about $36M) while the proposed property tax rate would decrease from $14.52 to $14.11 — a reduction of roughly $0.42 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Using illustrative rollback figures and a $100,000‐assessed home example, administrators explained that the net change could be a modest decrease of around $61 for that hypothetical home, though individual results depend on the homeowner’s assessed value and applicable credits.
The board also set a public hearing for a proposed amendment to the 2025–26 budget. Administration said the amendment includes an instructional capital request (network access points and switches) estimated at about $700,000, with roughly half expected to be reimbursed through E‑Rate but requiring upfront payment from the district; and increased food‑service supply costs (approximately 12–15% higher than prior estimates). Administration emphasized that the amendment would not increase taxes but reallocates existing authority.
Board members asked for comparisons with other districts and were reminded by staff that apples‑to‑apples comparisons require full levy breakdowns because districts may have different voted levies and debt obligations. A motion to publish the budget estimate and notice of public hearing and to hold the hearings at 5:30 p.m. on April 27 at Cedar Falls City Hall passed by voice vote.
