Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Eden Central board told 2025–26 budget faces roughly $5 million gap without a tax increase
Summary
At a board meeting, district staff presented a 2025–26 budget outlook showing an estimated $5,000,000 shortfall if taxes are held flat; the tax‑cap calculation for next year is 2.58%, about $415,000 in additional levy capacity.
Mrs. May, presenting the district’s second budget session for the 2025–26 cycle, told the board the tax‑cap calculation for the coming school year is 2.58%, which translates to roughly $415,000 in additional tax levy capacity.
“We have about a $5,000,000 budget gap if we do not increase taxes at all,” Mrs. May said, summarizing the district’s revenue assumptions and projected expenditures. She explained the tax‑cap calculation starts at the lesser of 2% or CPI (CPI at 2.95% so the district uses 2%), adds a small growth factor and any capital or retirement exclusions to arrive at the final percentage.
The presentation showed the district has historically kept its levy at or below the cap and has cumulatively foregone about $1,900,000 by not raising to the full cap since 2012–13. Mrs. May emphasized that state aid increases and other revenue sources have shifted the budget mix, but she said even raising to the computed cap would not close the current multi‑million‑dollar shortfall and that a detailed review of expenditures will follow.
Board members acknowledged the size of the gap and discussed next steps, including potential trimming of expenditures, how much of reserves to use, and the likelihood that a public vote in May may be required if the board chooses to seek additional tax levy beyond the district’s comfort level.
