Voters pass $278.65 million budget with a 3.51% tax levy increase

What happened

On May 19, 2026, voters approved the 2026-27 school budget of $278,650,000, up 3.96% from this year. The tax levy (the part paid by property owners) rises 3.51%, the most the state cap allows. A $3.4 million bus purchase and a new $20 million, 20-year building reserve fund also passed.

Why it matters to families

Higher health insurance costs and slower state aid left a gap of about $12 million. To close it the district cut 19 positions, used savings, and cut spending on equipment and supplies. Property tax bills and school staffing both change.

The evidence

The board certified the vote on May 19 and said the budget passed (spoken vote counts in the auto-captions are garbled). The district's budget newsletter lists the $278,650,000 budget, the 3.96% increase, the 3.51% levy, 19 eliminated positions and both added propositions. The January budget workshop gave the 16.4% health insurance increase and the $12 million shortfall.

The source