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Canton Local board advances renewal levy to May ballot as tax reform clouds revenue forecasts
Summary
The Canton Local Board of Education approved a resolution to place a renewal levy on the May ballot and advanced its 2026–27 tax budget, while staff warned recent state tax reforms will lower projected property-tax revenues and noted an illustrative drop in one fund from about $690,000 to $376,000.
The Canton Local Board of Education voted on Jan. 12 to proceed with a renewal levy for the May 5 ballot and approved the district’s tax-budget submission for fiscal 2026–27 amid new uncertainty from state tax changes.
Staff presenting the tax-budget package told the board the district must submit the formal document to the county budget commission and that recent state tax-reform bills will reduce property-tax collections compared with recent years. “We are going to see reduced property-tax collections moving forward,” a staff member said, noting the district’s certified estimates will be updated for the February forecast and again after county certification.
The staff presentation included an illustrative decline in the permanent improvement fund “from the 690,000 down to 376,000,” a drop the presenter said reflects the effect of retroactive tax credits and a new baseline tied to inflation. Staff emphasized these are working estimates subject to revision by the county budget commission.
Board members approved a resolution to proceed with the renewal levy after legal counsel reviewed updated ballot language provided by the county auditor and the state department of taxation. Counsel and staff said contradictory guidance from recent legislation required revising the ballot language; if the board of elections requests further changes before the Feb. 4 deadline, staff said the board may need a special meeting to refile language.
The board approved the tax-budget document and the resolution to place the levy on the ballot by motion and roll call. Staff said the February forecast will include any updated certificate amounts once the county completes its certification.
