Community budget panel urges board to plan November 2025 VADER and study a future bond

Mark Holmes, speaking for the budget steering committee's finance subcommittee, told the board the group examined mechanisms to sustain and improve district services and recommended the board plan for a voter-approval tax-rate election in November 2025 to recover a 3.17'cent compression enacted by recent state legislation. "Evader focused on recovering that 3.17¢ compression by the legislature, could generate an additional 7,400,000 in net revenue," Holmes said, urging robust community engagement on timing and message.

Holmes and staff also advised the board to consider calling a bond election either in November 2025 or May 2026 depending on community feedback, and recommended surveys and outreach to determine the most favorable timing. Committee members emphasized the need to protect neighborhood schools while exploring revenue options and to pair any ask with clear investments in academics, safety, and staffing.

Trustees asked clarifying questions about projected targets and timing; staff said additional analysis and spring presentations will provide the board with budget ranges and options that account for pending legislative decisions. The committee framed the VADER and bond as options to address a multi'million-dollar budget gap driven by declining enrollment, rising costs in special education, transportation, and other state funding shortfalls.