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Board reviews levy-replacement scenarios and adopts 2025–26 budget (Resolution 989)
Summary
Board heard replacement-levy forecasting scenarios for the EPO and technology levies showing multiple growth models, requested levy-spend breakdowns for outreach, and unanimously adopted Resolution 989 to set maximum appropriations for the 2025–26 budget.
District financial consultant Corey Pleger presented replacement-levy scenarios and growth forecasts to the Richland School Board as staff prepared to place Education Programs & Operations (EPO) and technology levies before voters. Pleger reviewed levy-lid rules, recent assessed-value growth driven by new construction, and four revenue scenarios using growth assumptions ranging from 2.5% to 7.5% (and a hybrid variable model). He said the district is currently about $6 million under the levy lid and that forecasting levy revenue involves tradeoffs between leaving money on the table and risking voter resistance to higher ballot numbers.
"There's really no correlation that leads me in a certain direction that says I think 7.5% is a recommendation or a conservative 2.5% is a recommendation," Pleger told the board, urging a middle-ground approach and asking the board to decide both a growth assumption and whether to keep the same tax rate. Board members requested a four‑year budget showing how different levy amounts would be spent, with explicit examples of programs supported by levy dollars (for example, arts programming cited during public comment), noting that such a memo would help with voter outreach.
On the same night the board considered its budget, Chief Financial Officer Travis moved to adopt Resolution 989, the 2025–26 budget and appropriation amounts. Board discussion clarified that the resolution sets the maximum appropriation (the upper limit the board can spend) and does not require actual spending at that level; staff explained the flexibility helps avoid repeat budget-extension processes when unforeseen revenues or expenses arise. During discussion staff referenced a planning figure of about $239 million as a maximum-appropriations scenario.
The board voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 989. Student representative San Ferila and the voting members present voted in favor; the motion passed.
What comes next: staff will prepare a detailed four-year levy budget (EPO and technology) showing program-level spending to support public outreach and levy planning at the district’s September meetings. The board also scheduled additional fiscal updates and an enrollment report in September.
