Wichita USD 259 board votes to publish 2025–26 budget notice, sets Sept. 8 hearing after proposed flat mill rate

The Wichita Public Schools Board of Education on Aug. 4 authorized publication of the district’s notice of hearing and the notice of intent to exceed the revenue-neutral tax rate for the 2025–26 fiscal year and set a public budget hearing for 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at AMAC. The motion passed 7–0.

The board and district financial staff framed the action as a procedural step to satisfy state requirements while moving forward with a balanced operating budget that the district says funds a wage package and school-based supports. Addie Lowell, the district chief financial officer, presented the proposed budgets and mill rates and answered board questions before the vote.

Lowell said the district’s total proposed budget is about $1.009 billion, with an operating budget (general fund plus supplemental general fund) of roughly $614.7 million. The district proposes a combined mill rate of 51.387 mills for 2025–26—flat from the prior year—comprised of the statutorily fixed 20.0 mills for the general state aid formula, 17.618 mills for the supplemental general fund, 8.0 mills for capital outlay and 5.5 mills for bond and interest after debt adjustments.

Lowell told the board the operating budget increase of about $20.2 million funds priorities drawn from building needs assessments, including staffing for newcomer and ESOL services, counselors and social workers, behavior supports, unified pre-K, expanded community-school coordinators and a compensation package that, on average, exceeds the three-year CPI change. She said special-education costs rose by about $9.9 million, and capital outlay rose roughly $14.7 million to address deferred facility needs.

Julie Hedrick moved to authorize publication of the required notices and set the hearing for Sept. 8; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Lowell and Superintendent Brandon Bielefeld told the board that, while the district kept the mill rate flat, rising appraisals on property mean many homeowners will see higher tax bills because taxes are the product of both rates and property valuations. As an example, Lowell used a $200,000 median home: applying an 8.7% valuation increase and the proposed mill rate produces an estimated district tax of $1,112.23—about $8.57 more per month than the same home’s bill would have been without the valuation change.

Board members and staff discussed trade-offs in budgeting, noting the district prioritized staff and school supports by finding efficiencies elsewhere; Lowell said the district had reduced more than 50 central-office positions in recent years while redirecting staff into school-based roles. The board received the presentation and approved placing the required legal notices for public review.

The hearing will allow residents to comment on the proposed budget and the district’s intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate required under Kansas law; the board will consider final budget adoption at a later meeting.