District presents proposed $40.48 million levy, cites bond debt and facility projects as main drivers

Amanda Heilman, director in the district business office, told the school board on Dec. 2 that the district plans to certify a proposed property tax levy of $40,482,667.07, to be brought back for approval on Dec. 15. Heilman said the recommended amount reflects a combined levy increase of about 10.7%, with the general fund up roughly 8.8% and debt service rising about 14%, driven primarily by indoor air‑quality and long‑term facility maintenance bonds the district issued in 2023.

Heilman framed the levy within the district’s fund accounting system and state funding formula. “The current actual formula allowance for the 2027 school year will be $7,658; if it had kept pace with inflation, it should be at $9,112,” she said, noting an approximate shortfall that places downward pressure on budgets statewide. She reported projected 2026 combined revenue of about $183 million against roughly $211 million in expenditures, a gap largely explained by construction and bond spending.

The business official walked through how the levy is split among funds and how property valuation changes shift the local burden among taxpayers, using a $300,000 example to illustrate the impact of a 3% valuation increase. Heilman also highlighted that efficiencies in the bond sale (interest rates came in lower than expected) reduced the overall levy increase compared with earlier estimates.

Board members asked about the spike in valuations in 2023–24, how much of the levy is tied to operations versus debt, and how bond issuance savings affected the projection. Heilman said last year’s large property revaluations explain the earlier spike and reiterated that property tax calculations depend on assessed values, class rates and contributions from other taxing jurisdictions.

During public comment, resident Dean Musavi urged the board to balance education quality with fiscal stewardship and asked whether the district has considered closing one of three elementary schools with low enrollment to reduce maintenance costs. The board discussed enrollment trends and facility strategies but took no directive to close schools during the meeting. The recommended levy certification will return to the board on Dec. 15 for action.

What happens next: the board will consider formal certification of the levy at its Dec. 15 meeting; the district will then proceed with state reporting and county notification required by truth‑in‑taxation procedures.