By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school board voted to approve its 2024-2025 budget after a hearing on Monday night.
The board also voted to exceed the revenue-neutral rate.
The Ellis County valuation went up about 5% this year.
The Kansas Legislature enacted a statute requiring any local taxing body to inform the public if the taxes it collects increase. This requires taxing bodies to conduct a "revenue-neutral hearing" if the tax collected will increase.
The school district's general operating budget for 2024-25 will be $27.1 million, up from just less than $24.9 million in 2023-24.
The supplemental general fund was $7.75 million in 2023-24 and will increase to $8.6 million in 2024-25.
The district's total expenditures were $79.2 million in 2023-24 and will be $93.5 million for 2024-25. However, that includes $8.5 million for debt service and $12 million for special education.
The special education co-op expenses increased by about $2.5 million. The debt service expenses increased by about $1.8 million.
John Pyle, local resident, urged the board to remain revenue-neutral.
"Do you ever discuss reducing expenses?" he said.
Kent Kennedy, local resident, said, "Taxes are going up faster than wages. It creates a real problem for families."
He added it is easiet to spend other people’s money.
"In every case, you're spending taxpayers' money," he told the board.
He said the school district was getting an increase in revenue, but he wasn't getting a raise.
School board vice president Jayme Goetz said she did not see the school district receiving a raise. The district is trying to keep up with student needs.
Board member Ruth Ruder said the state has not paid its obligations, and that has affected local taxes.
Statute requires the state to pay for 92 percent of the special education costs above federal aid, but that has not happened since 2011. This means money has to come from local school districts' budgets to pay those costs.
The district is required by law to provide special education services.
Ruder said she would fight to get the state to pay its full obligation for special education.
Ruder, a bank vice president, said home values are based on sale prices. More jobs and more demand for housing increase the cost of houses.
"It's simple economics," she said.
Board member Allen Park said he thought the district should reduce its capital outlay mill levy.
"We redid the baseball field. We remodeled the Roosevelt office. I think we could plan a little better," he said.
Board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp said the most significant increase in the mill levy was from the bond. That number is set.
"I know we have been responsible and need to do this to continue to keep teachers here and keep buildings in the right condition," she said. "A district growing and the number of students growing is the result of living in a prosperous community."
Ruder said, "I have looked at this budget over and over and over. I couldn't find anywhere to cut. We will have to look for cuts moving forward."
"We can't change the bond. The voters voted for the bond. Whether you like it or not, it passed."
Park said he thought the board needed more and earlier involvement in the budgeting process.
"Budget is our lane," he said. "We don’t spend enough time with it."
Board member Ken Brooks said the board works and votes on items in the budget throughout the year.
Ruder said, "Our mission statement is that we are here for the kids. Our obligation is to taxpayers, but we have 100 percent obligation to meet the kids' needs and the needs of teachers."