Big Spring School Board Adopts $67.4M Budget With 3.25% Tax Increase, Orders Performance Audit

The Big Spring School District board voted 5–4 on June 8 to adopt a $67,422,175 general fund budget for the 2026–27 school year that raises real‑estate taxes by 3.25% and directs administrators to pursue a third‑party performance audit.

Administration framed the budget as a product of updated revenue information and modest expense assumptions. "62% of our revenues come from our local sources," said Alexa Lentz during a finance presentation laying out revenue drivers and expense categories. Lentz told the board a recent county update increased the district's median assessed value and produced roughly $67,000 in additional local revenue that allowed administration to recommend reducing the previously proposed millage increase from 3.5% to 3.25%.

Board members debated multiple amendments before the final vote. An attempt to hold the tax increase at 0% failed 5–4. Another amendment to add a requirement that the administration solicit and return recommendations for a third‑party performance audit passed by majority vote; the audit language was bundled into the main motion before the final roll call. A later motion to lower the increase to 1.5% also failed.

Under the approved package, the district will adopt the tax rates and submit required state paperwork; Lentz said the budget assumes a 96% tax collection rate and requires $27,810 from the unassigned fund balance to balance revenues and expenditures. The board chair said the district will work with vendors to print tax bills and file required state reports following approval.

The board's action was met with strong public opposition earlier in the meeting. Several residents warned the tax increase would harm low‑income and retired residents, and public commenters provided figures alleging hundreds of households are already delinquent on property taxes. Supporters of the budget argued that the increase, combined with an audit requirement, balances fiscal need with oversight. The board did not adopt any immediate staff reductions as part of the budget vote.