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Springfield School Board approves 2026 tax levy, homestead exclusions and 2026–27 budget
Summary
The Springfield School District board on May 14 approved a 2026 real estate tax levy, homestead/farmstead exclusion rates and the 2026–27 general fund budget; officials said the budget gap will be covered with fund balance reserves. All votes were 6–0.
The Springfield School District Board of School Directors on May 14 approved a 2026 real estate tax levy, homestead and farmstead exclusion rates and the district's 2026–27 general fund budget, voting unanimously on each measure.
Board President Lord moved and the board approved a real estate tax levy listed in the agenda as 22.8326 mills for 2026, described by staff as a 2.95% increase compared with the 2025 levy. The resolution passed 6–0.
The board also approved the 2026 homestead and farmstead exclusion schedule. The agenda listed a property tax reduction allocation of $2,068,377.79 (PDE), 6,852 approved HS-FS properties, a maximum assessed-value reduction of $13,220.78 and a maximum real estate reduction per HS-FS property of $301.86; the measure passed 6–0.
Dr. Hatt presented the district's final general fund budget for 2026–27, saying the plan closely followed the April presentation with one additional item and that the board would balance the remaining deficit by using fund balance reserves. "We were able to close the gap between the revenue and expenditures a little bit less than was presented, and we do recommend and propose that the deficit in the budget be balanced by paying down or using fund balance reserves to pay down the budget," Dr. Hatt said.
Board members thanked Dr. Hatt and finance staff for minimizing cuts while addressing a decline in the community's assessed value. The budget resolution carried on a 6–0 vote.
Why it matters: the tax levy and budget set the district's revenue and spending for the coming school year and determine how much property owners will pay. The board characterized the use of fund balance reserves as the method to close the remaining deficit; the amount of the deficit and the size of the reserves allocated were not specified in the meeting record.
What’s next: board materials and the approved calendar for 2026–27 will be posted on the district website, and staff will implement the approved budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year.
