Big Spring School Board adopts $67.4M budget with 3.25% tax increase, orders performance audit

The Big Spring School District board on June 8 adopted a $67,422,175 general‑fund budget for the 2026–27 school year that includes a 3.25% increase in the real‑estate tax rate.

Alexa Lentz, who presented the district's final budget update, said 62% of the district's revenues come from local sources and that 77% of that is current real‑estate tax revenue. "62% of our revenues come from our local sources," Lentz told the board during the finance presentation, and she recommended trimming the administration's earlier proposed millage increase from 3.5% to 3.25% after updated homestead/farmstead data and a modest $67,000 local revenue increase.

The vote came after several failed amendments seeking a 0% increase and later a reduction to 1.5%. A separate amendment, carried by majority vote, directed administration to solicit options for a third‑party performance audit; the board clarified that any selection of auditor and cost would return to the board for approval. The main motion to adopt the budget with the 3.25% tax increase passed on a roll‑call vote, 5–4.

Board members weighed the tradeoffs between raising revenue now and preserving future tax‑raising capacity. Members who opposed higher increases argued many district households are delinquent on taxes and that the board should seek deeper internal cuts; supporters cited revenue shortfalls and long‑term financial projections. Lentz warned state funding and future index levels are uncertain and noted the board would need to complete post‑adoption steps, including submission of the district's PDE and DCED tax reports and printing tax bills.

Administration will return with proposals and vendor quotes for a performance audit. The board also approved a homestead and farmstead exclusion calculation for 2026–27 and instructed staff to finalize tax‑bill processing for the adopted budget.