Salt Lake City School District budget review highlights nearly $33M diverted to redevelopment, board presses for transparency

Alan Kearsley, who led the district’s final budget review on May 21, told the Salt Lake City School District Board of Education that several special revenue funds face structural pressures and that the district is not proposing a change to the certified tax rate for next year.

Kearsley highlighted the Child Nutrition Fund — which covers lunch, breakfast and after‑school snacks — saying the budget includes no increase in student meal prices and that the program remains reliant on federal and state reimbursements. He said fund balances fell after pandemic-era federal inflows ended and commended the child nutrition staff for boosting participation.

Much of the board’s discussion focused on the pass‑through taxes fund, which accounts for property tax receipts the district levies but that are remitted to other agencies. Kearsley said “the current year amount that’s been diverted is almost $33,000,000,” up from about $21,000,000 in 2021. Board members called that figure substantial and asked for clearer communication to taxpayers about where portions of their property tax dollars go.

Board Member Ashley Anderson said the dollar figure is meaningful in practical terms: “That’s the equivalent of the general operating cost for 55 elementary schools,” she said, urging the district to add context to homeowner tax notices so residents better understand redirected levies. Several members, including Board Member Jensen, recommended continued conversations with state legislators and city partners to seek greater transparency or negotiated returns where possible.

Kearsley also reviewed the Student Activity Fund (supported by fees, fundraisers and donations) and the Salt Lake Education Foundation Fund (a 501(c)(3) that raises project‑specific revenue). He said the district will present the revised 2023–24 budget, the proposed 2024–25 budget and the certified tax rate at the public hearing scheduled for the board’s June 4 meeting and recommended adopting the certified rate as a “no tax increase” action.

What’s next: The board scheduled a public hearing June 4, when it will vote on the revised and proposed budgets and the tax rate.