Schuyler board adopts $19.6 million budget and sets tax request at 99¢ per $100

Schuyler Community Schools trustees voted to adopt a $19,625,164 budget for the 2025–26 year and approved a property-tax request that will yield a 99¢ levy per $100 of assessed value.

The district presented the figures during a combined tax hearing and regular meeting. Administrator (Speaker 2) said the general fund request is $17,992,283, the bond fund $1,082,003.18 and the special building fund $146,005.23, with total bond purposes of $1,486,003.58 and non‑bond amounts of $18,138,008.00. The administration described the package as a 4% increase in the district’s tax asking compared with last year but a 7¢ reduction in the levy rate because of increased assessed valuation.

Trustees and administrators emphasized the board’s goal of growing the district cash reserve. Speaker 2 said the district started with roughly $600,000 in reserve, gained “about 2 and a half million” through expenditure reductions and hopes to add “at least another half million” with the new budget to avoid borrowing for routine obligations. The presentation noted roughly 64% of revenue comes from property taxes and that state equalization aid has declined as local valuation rose.

Board members called for continued fiscal prudence, including tighter coding of expenditures and seeking program consolidations where appropriate. After the levy resolution was read, a motion to adopt the 2025–26 levy resolution and budget was made and approved by roll call. Trustees recorded affirmative votes in roll call to finalize the budget and direct certification of the resolution to the county clerk as required.

The district noted the levy resolution language includes the statutory deadline for certification to the county clerk on or before Oct. 15. The administration said the budget will be monitored and quarterly financial reports shared with the board.