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Southeast Polk School Board holds budget public hearing as valuations rise; resident urges cost cuts
Summary
At a March 26 special meeting, Southeast Polk’s CFO reviewed a proposed tax statement showing property valuations up about 8%. A resident urged the board to cut expenses to reduce household tax burdens; the board took no vote on the tax rate at the hearing.
The Southeast Polk School Board convened a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. on March 26 for a budget public hearing, where Chief Financial Officer Kevin Bekom reviewed a proposed tax statement from the county and one resident urged the board to find expense savings to ease household tax bills.
Bekom, identified as the district’s chief financial officer, told the board the proposed figures are based on recent property valuation increases. "The proposed figures are based on property valuations that increased by 8.2% over the past year, with an average increase of 8.7% over the last 5 years," he said, and explained the statement also included an effective tax rate "as required by law." He added enrollment growth and rising costs for wages, benefits, supplies and facility maintenance affect the district's budget and said the district does not control property valuations or taxes levied by other governmental entities that contribute to a taxpayer’s total bill.
During the public-comment period, resident Trent Borse of 390 Northeast 78th Court questioned why the effective tax rate appears to be held flat despite rising valuations. "I didn't get an 8% raise this year," Borse said, urging the board to "look at what you're doing to cut expenses and help out the population" to reduce the burden on individual households. The board chair thanked Borse for his feedback; the hearing record shows no board response beyond that acknowledgment and no formal action on the tax levy was taken that night.
Procedural items at the start and end of the meeting included a unanimous vote to approve the agenda and a motion to adjourn after the public hearing. The board read its mission and vision during the meeting: "Southeast Polk will learn, lead, live success for college, career, and civic life," and the chair set a three-minute limit for public commenters.
The public hearing provided residents the opportunity to comment on the county's proposed tax statement for fiscal year 2027, which the CFO said would be effective July 1, 2026. The board closed the hearing and adjourned without taking a formal vote on the tax rate; the transcript does not record a subsequent date for any action on the levy.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve the agenda: approved by roll-call vote (members present responded 'yes'). - Motion to adjourn: approved; meeting adjourned.
(For the record: no motion to set or adopt a tax levy was made or recorded during this meeting.)
