ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
It is officially budget time for local government entities, including USD 480.
The USD 480 school board officially adopted its budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year after a combined Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) and traditional budget hearing at its Sept. 8 meeting, and Director of Business Services Nila Newton said there were a lot of factors given consideration.
“The district’s leadership reviewed assessed valuations, federal and state funding realities, the Building Needs Assessment and community feedback before reaching budgetary consensus and finalizing spending plans, so there was a lot to talk about,” Newton said. “The final approved budget for USD 480 reflects an overall emphasis on balancing operational needs with taxpayer impact in a year marked by rising property valuations and significant debate over public school finance.”
Newton then went into more detail with the overall numbers.
“For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the General Fund budget for USD 480 is initially set for $43,860,450. This number may change after the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) annual audit and we will not have a final number until June 2026,” Newton said. “The Supplemental General (Local Option Budget) Fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year is $14,347,234 which is an increase $744,381, or 5.47 percent, from the prior year. Our federal funds (consolidated federal Title and IDEA programs) are budgeted at $3,879,288 which marks a decrease of $1,446,647 (-27.16 percent) from the prior year. The decrease is associated with the sunsetting of the ESSER grant programs. The total assessed valuation for all district funds except General in 2025 is $213,390,464 (up 11.79 percent from the previous year), and this means the district is able to collect $213,390 for every mill levied for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The General Fund assessed valuation is $167,452,593 (up 14.91 percent from the previous year). The mill rate is statutorily set at 20 mills; therefore, the increase in assessed valuations has a positive impact for the district. Enrollment projections for 2025-26 are set at 4,510, of which 125.5 are pre-school aged at-risk students. This represents a modest increase over the prior year and is subject to annual audit by KSDE.”
Part of those discussions, Newton said, included the Revenue Neutral Rate.
“The district’s total proposed mill levy (all funds) is 46.001, which is 3.373 Mills lower than the previous fiscal year, and we did not exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate. The proposed mill levy figure means the district is not increasing the tax rate on property, but, due to higher assessed valuation, we are in a position to collect more aggregate property tax revenue, even though the rate (mills) is down,” Newton said. “The board’s prudent approach to setting mill levies reflects efforts to maintain affordability for local taxpayers while collecting sufficient revenue to meet mandatory and strategic needs.”
Newton added there were many priorities that were part of this year’s budget discussions.
“USD 480’s top priority continues to be human capital – the educators and staff who shape student success every day. We are proud to deepen our investment in professional growth, retention and recruitment through a multi-pronged strategy that reflects both innovation and care,” Newton said. “At the heart of this effort is our ‘Learn Here, Grow Here, Lead Here’ initiative, which empowers non-certified staff to pursue certification and enter the classroom. Through in-house support programs, flexible pathways, and targeted educational assistance, we are cultivating future educators from within our own community. We are also committed to honoring and retaining our legacy staff, whose experience and dedication anchor our district. This includes expanded professional development, recognition efforts, and strategic compensation planning to ensure that long-serving employees feel valued. On the recruitment front, we are broadening our outreach to attract high-quality candidates who align with our district’s culture and goals. Finally, we are making significant investments in curriculum alignment and instructional coherence.”
There were also some updates that were required due to some changes with federal funding, Newton said.
“Like other Kansas districts, we had a scare at the beginning of the year with the threat of federal funding delays and possible funding cuts. Per state guidance, the district proceeded to budget federal receipts at last year's levels, and in August 2025 the state released the Title program allocations as follows: Title I Low Income ($1,403,296); Title IIA ($172,043); Title III ($213,371); Title IV ($82,513); and Migrant ($243,000),” Newton said. “While USD 480 did not suffer any material cutbacks in our core federal programs this year, the district will be prepared to reprioritize and, in some cases, defer expansions or enhancements to educational services if future funding is cut. This year’s planning process was grounded in a thorough review of the building needs assessment, assessed valuations, federal and state funding trends, and community input. The resulting USD 480 budget for 2025-2026 reflects both fiscal stewardship and a commitment to educational excellence.”
Overall, Newton said, she is pleased with how the budget process went.
“I can confidently say the budget came together well. District leadership, led by the school board and new superintendent, expressed confidence in this year’s process. By reducing the mill levy while leveraging higher valuations, USD 480 demonstrates responsive governance and sensitivity to taxpayers, particularly those on fixed incomes,” Newton said. “The public has voiced concerns over rising property valuations and their impact on the total dollar amount of the property tax bill as valuations outpace income growth for many residents. The board and superintendent have listened to those concerns, reaffirming their commitment to transparency and affordability. In the end, this budget strikes a thoughtful balance, delivering the resources students need while maintaining sensitivity to taxpayer burden.”
