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Board hears FY2026–27 budget with proposed 5.8% tax increase and school meal price adjustments
Summary
Business administrator Leon Wilcox presented a proposed FY2026–27 $610 million budget that includes a proposed property-tax increase (~$6.87M, ~5.8%) to fund a 0.75% COLA, two C.I.C. teachers, and capital needs. The presentation included an estimated average-home tax impact (~$37/year net) and proposed school meal price rises.
The board reviewed the district’s proposed FY2026–27 budget on June 2, with business administrator Leon Wilcox outlining revenue, enrollment and expense projections and proposed adjustments.
Wilcox said the district proposes a roughly $610 million budget and a proposed property-tax increase of approximately $6.87 million (about 5.8%). The district plans to use the funds to provide a 0.75% cost-of-living adjustment for eligible employees, to hire two Career and Innovation Center teachers and to increase capital reserves to address aging elementary facilities.
Wilcox presented an average-home tax estimate using county assessor values and said the net tax impact could be roughly $37 per average home annually once adjustments (including shifting debt-related levies) are accounted for. He noted the estimate could change slightly after the state certifies rates.
The presentation also proposed increases to paid meal prices: breakfast +$1.00, elementary lunch +$0.50 and secondary lunch +$0.75; staff will return with a formal recommendation for board action on June 16. Wilcox said schools on community eligibility provisions will continue to receive free meals and be unaffected by the paid price changes.
Wilcox highlighted a continuing statewide and local enrollment decline that will require staffing adjustments; district projections show a multi-year decline with possible stabilization in later years. He flagged class-size concentration in some elementary classes and said the district will monitor classroom distribution closely.
Board members asked clarifying questions about long-term capital needs (several elementary schools are 45–50+ years old), the interplay of debt service and capital transfers, and opportunities to reduce operating costs if enrollment continues to fall. The board scheduled a public truth-in-taxation hearing for Aug. 4; final budget adoption will follow that hearing.
