Manhattan board sets maximum levy amounts, citing teacher pay and budget authority

The Manhattan Public Schools Board of Trustees voted Feb. 10 to set maximum levy amounts for the 2026–27 fiscal year for both the elementary and high-school districts, a move trustees said is aimed at preserving budget authority and protecting teacher salaries and benefits.

District staff had presented preliminary budget worksheets showing two scenarios: the highest budget without a voted levy and the highest budget with a voted levy. Staff noted that increased non-levy revenue — notably out-of-district tuition and countywide high-cost-housing adjustments — has complicated the calculations and, in some cases, replenished lost budget authority so that certain permissive amounts can be included without a separate vote.

"My reasoning for making that recommendation is more toward salary and benefits," said a district staff member who moved the recommendation. "Salary, wages and benefits for our teachers and our staff…we want to be able to keep our best teachers." The chair and other trustees said the change in state and county formulas made this an appropriate time to act.

The board discussed administrative tradeoffs — including the higher administrative cost of some permissive high-cost-housing dollars and the fact those amounts are not guaranteed year to year — before approving the motions. Staff described prepared ballot language and a notice of intent that lists over-base property-tax requirements and line items such as transportation, technology, debt service and building reserve; those values are finalized in August and will be attached to tax bills if the levy proceeds.

District figures discussed during the presentation included a stated elementary over-base voted amount in the range of $67,000 (presenter cited $67,371.80 in one example) and a high-school over-base example near $121,000 (one cited figure was $121,285). Staff also noted a projected increase of roughly 3.7 mills for elementary in one scenario and described how market-value equalization affects taxable calculations.

The board passed separate motions to set the maximum levy amount for the elementary district and the high-school district as presented. The motions were moved, seconded and called to a voice vote; the chair announced the motions carried. Next steps: staff will finalize the notice of intent and ballot language and publish the statutory notices ahead of the August budget finalization.

The presentation and vote were procedural decisions about setting levy caps; the board did not adopt final tax rates or bind the ballot text beyond setting the maximums at this meeting.