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Tax Rate Vote Hides Potential Tax Increase
| 📅 Vote Scheduled August 25, 2026 |
The school board is scheduled to hold a public hearing and then immediately vote to adopt the 2026-2027 budget and a total tax rate of $1.018. The agenda fails to provide the most critical piece of information for taxpayers: the ‘no-new-revenue’ tax rate. This is the rate that would bring in the same amount of money as last year from the same properties. Without it, the board can approve a rate that significantly increases the total tax levy—and every homeowner’s tax bill—while claiming they are being fiscally responsible. This lack of upfront transparency prevents the public from understanding the true cost of the new budget before the final vote.
Response
ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING: Show up for the public hearing at 6:00 PM. During public comment, ask the board one question before they vote: ‘What is the no-new-revenue tax rate, and how much more in total property taxes will the district collect under your proposed $1.018 rate compared to the no-new-revenue rate?’ Demand they answer before the vote.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed. The total increase in the property tax levy above the no-new-revenue level is not provided in the agenda.
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