Elizabeth Barnhardt - D5 Trustee

If any of these change, it impacts property taxes paid by residents and businesses

The board recently passed first reading of a policy change that will increase the required fund balance.

Claims that this change is needed to maintain our bond ratings are patently false. Our current bond rating is Aa and the fund balance for that rating is 17.5-25.0 as a % of the annual budget. Currently our fund balance is 27%.

Unless the budget decreases relative to property values (which will never happen), increasing the required fund balance WILL require increased property taxes.

The result will be higher taxes for residents and businesses and a further disincentive for new businesses to locate in our school district.

I urge you to make your thoughts on this known to our board before Monday’s scheduled final vote.