Cache County board previews $10.5 million property-tax revenue increase to staff new schools, preserve state funding

The Cache County School District board on Monday received a tentative 2026–27 budget that includes a proposed increase in property-tax revenues of $10,515,000 — about a 19.1% rise from the current year — the district's business administrator said.

"The tentative budget for the Cache County School District for the 2026–27 school year includes a proposed tax rate increase," Jared Black, the district's business administrator, told the board during the district's monthly financial report and tentative-budget presentation. "The approximate proposed increase in tax revenues is $10,515,000, which represents an estimated 19.1% increase in total budgeted property-tax revenues from the current year."

Black said roughly $7.9 million of that increase would restore the district's contribution to the board-and-voted-levy program so the district continues to receive full funding under that program; about $2,000,000 would fund staffing at three new schools (principals, counselors, custodians, specialists and administrative assistants); and roughly $540,000 would add three buses this year and increase capital outlay in future years.

The district emphasized the figures are preliminary. Black said assessed valuation inside the district's boundaries is estimated at just over $13,000,000,000 this year (up about $1,000,000,000 from last year) and that certified tax rates from the county are still pending. Those certified rates, he said, should arrive within two to three weeks and will be used to update rate projections.

"These schedules are currently developed using estimates and preliminary numbers, so they will be updated as we move forward toward the budget hearing in June, and then a truth-in-taxation public hearing in August," Black said, noting a required public hearing on the proposed increase is scheduled for Aug. 6 at 6 p.m.

Board members asked whether the taxpayer-impact percentages shown on the district's property-tax impact schedule could appear large for individual levies while the districtwide property-tax increase measures about 19.1% overall. Black explained that the larger percentages on the schedule describe increases for those specific levies and that the 19.1% figure compares total projected property-tax revenues to the current year's total property-tax revenues.

When a board member asked whether the legislature could adjust deadlines that govern when certified tax rates must be provided, several members said they expect feedback to the legislature as jurisdictions implement the recently changed truth-in-taxation process. Black said timing and implementation issues are common when laws are new and added that refinements are likely as public entities provide feedback.

The board heard additional budget context: the district estimates K–12 fall enrollment at 19,703 students (about 80 fewer than the current year), with elementary (K–5) just under 8,000 and secondary (6–12) about 11,739; the state's weighted pupil unit (WPU) value is projected to rise 4.2% to $4,870 per full-time student; and an early-literacy allocation of just over $800,000 is expected, slated for paraprofessionals and literacy coaches.

The district will publish a property-tax impact schedule showing average homeowner and commercial property impacts, and will hold the required public hearings before finalizing any tax-rate change. The board's tentative-budget hearing is scheduled for June 18; the district's truth-in-taxation public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 6 at 6 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- 2026–27 district calendar adjustment: approved unanimously after a motion to adopt the recommended calendar adjustment was moved by a board member (S1) and seconded by another board member (S4).

- 180-day / 990-hour calendar report: approved unanimously (motioned by S4, seconded by President Rhodes).

- Adoption of character-education curriculum: approved unanimously (motion moved and seconded by S4), following a presentation and positive comments from teachers and board members.

What happens next

The district will update rate projections after the county issues certified tax rates and will present revised figures at the June budget hearing. If the board proceeds with a tax-rate increase, the district will publish the required notices and hold the Aug. 6 truth-in-taxation public hearing to collect public comment before any final action.