Lincoln board discusses $50,000 mill levy as budget gap and STARS Act loom

The Lincoln K-12 Schools board discussed options to close an emerging budget shortfall and considered placing a $50,000 mill levy before voters.

At the meeting the superintendent recommended pursuing a $50,000 mill levy to supplement the general fund, saying it would increase mills and — using a $300,000 home as an example — raise taxes by about $42.44 annually (roughly $3.54 a month). Board members discussed community outreach, explanatory mailings and whether the levy would be temporary; staff said the levy would remain unless changed by future legislation.

Why it matters: board leaders said current budget worksheets show the district is roughly $20,000 down from last year and that the state-level STARS Act proposal — which would raise teacher starting wages if the district commits — could require a local commitment by May 15 to access additional funding. The chair said the district would need to reach an agreement and possibly execute a memorandum of understanding if the STARS Act passes at the state level.

Board members asked staff to draft clearer outreach language for a community mailing and to explain how the levy revenues would be used. A motion to place the $50,000 mill levy on the ballot was made and seconded on the record; the transcript of this meeting did not include a roll-call or recorded outcome for that motion.

The board also discussed legislative uncertainty: one member noted pending bills could change levy rules and, if passed, could require levies to be reauthorized in 10 years. Staff advised the board that such changes would complicate long-range planning.

Next steps: staff will prepare public-facing explanatory material and return with clearer budget projections and a timeline tied to the state legislature’s action. The record in the provided transcript does not include a recorded vote on the mill-levy motion.