Smith‑Green Community Schools staff outline 2026 budget, capital plan and tax‑rate estimate at public hearing

Chair Busco opened the public hearing of Smith‑Green Community Schools on Oct. 6, 2025. A staff member led a line‑by‑line review of the district's budget packet and said the materials show the advertised tax rate of 1.1197 and an internal estimate that the rate "should fall roughly about 0.9746." The packet included debt service, operations and referendum figures.

The presenter outlined multi‑year vehicle purchases and capital priorities, listing one special‑education bus in 2027; two passenger buses in 2028; two 14‑passenger buses in 2029; and a large bus in 2030. Staff also described planned classroom furniture replacements for elementary and junior/senior high, track‑area fencing and discus cage work, a potential asphalt parking lot on district property, new scoreboards for baseball and football, gym‑floor repairs and stage refinishing, plus ongoing inspection and maintenance of bleachers and backstops.

Staff explained the packet contains standard budget forms: Form 3 (advertised figures), Form 1 (appropriations plan) and a current‑year financial worksheet showing July–December balances, disbursements, levies and temporary loans. The presenter listed miscellaneous revenue categories cited in the materials — including license excise tax and CVET — and said a revenue item transcribed as "the 5th" is expected to end in 2027 (the transcript did not define that item further).

On the district's near‑term finances, the presenter said the current year worksheet shows June 30 cash balances and tax collections to date and summarized that the corporation looks "very financially stable at this point." A figure mentioned in the meeting, $16,069,004.48, was given without additional context in the transcript.

The public hearing was adjourned by Chair Busco at 06:42. No public comments or formal votes on the draft budget were recorded in the transcript.