Longtime Ames resident urges board to examine why new development falls outside Ames Community School District during levy hearing

Longtime Ames resident Johan Goldchin told the Ames Community School District board during the certified-budget public hearing that he has followed the district's finances since 2016 and is concerned that recent development inside the city limits is not being captured by the school district tax base. "I see that in many occasion the school board ... they are short of budget," Goldchin said, adding he has discussed the issue with legislators and believes it could be solved by targeted legislative work or legal remedies.

The public hearing — a required step in adopting the district's certified budget — included instructions from the board chair on how residents could sign up to speak and a reminder that written comments will be entered into the meeting record. Goldchin, who said he has lived in Ames for more than 50 years and has children and grandchildren who attended district schools, asked the board to consider whether the city’s higher-value development that sits outside the school district boundary (he referenced Gilbert) is contributing to a funding imbalance and requested a follow-up meeting with district leadership to share his documentation.

The board did not engage in dialogue during the hearing; the chair had previously advised that board members would listen and that any issues raised could be taken up at a future meeting. No board response or staff action was recorded during the hearing. The public hearing record remains open for written comments, which the board secretary was directed to enter into the official meeting record.