Vermilion board approves renewal resolution for five-year fixed-sum levy after state law change

The Vermilion Board of Education voted 5-0 May 11 at the VHS Commons to approve a resolution to renew a five-year fixed-sum levy, a step district officials said is needed after the state’s recent change to millage calculations.

The action follows a presentation explaining how House Bill 129, which became law March 20, 2026, now counts fixed-sum (formerly emergency) levies in the calculation that sets the state’s 20-mill minimum for school funding. The presenter (identified in the transcript as Joseph) told the board that the change means the district must renew the fixed-sum levy to maintain current operating revenue levels.

Why it matters: under the presenter’s calculations, the district’s existing levies plus the fixed-sum levy put Vermilion above the 20-mill floor; if the district did not renew the fixed-sum levy, the presenter said the district would lose about $1.8 million in revenue because the state would no longer need to add roughly 3.4 mills to reach the 20-mill floor. The presenter said the fixed-sum levy generates approximately $4.25 million for operations and that, under the new law, renewal must be for five years.

The presenter summarized the math used to estimate the value of one mill on class-one (residential/agricultural) property, walked the board through the district’s historical levies, and said the net effect of House Bill 129 is that homeowners would see a reduction in the mills the state previously added — but the district’s operating totals would change if the levy were not renewed. “If our levy passes, our residents have lower taxes,” the treasurer, Justin, confirmed during a follow-up exchange. The presenter told the board the district would otherwise face an approximately $1.87 million decline in tax revenue because of the state law change.

Board action: the board approved the resolution to renew the fixed-sum levy by unanimous roll call. The motion was recorded as passing 5-0.

What happens next: the board’s approval was a resolution to renew the levy (the board’s action puts the renewal before the district’s decision process as prescribed by state law). District officials said the levy must be for five years under the new rules and that the revenue would support operating and program expenses if renewed.

Context and local impact: district leaders framed the renewal as preserving the current level of services: the presenter said the levy is intended to “keep the lights on, keep the level of education” at current standards. Officials said renewing would reduce the automatic millage additions made by the auditor to reach the 20-mill floor and therefore lower local effective millage for homeowners compared with the immediate post-HB129 calculation.

The board approved the motion and several other agenda items during the May 11 meeting, including personnel contract renewals and capital purchases. The meeting record shows the levy resolution cleared the board on a 5-0 vote.