The Lawrence school board on Monday approved publication of its proposed 2026-27 budget that would increase the amount the district collects in property taxes, despite a slight decrease in its overall tax rate.
The proposed 52.204 mill levy is 0.141 mills lower than the district’s 2025-26 levy of 52.345 mills. But because assessed property valuations have increased, the district is still going to exceed its revenue neutral rate — the rate that would generate the same total amount of property tax revenue as the year prior.
A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
“In a time of increasing assessed valuation, we might need less of a mill levy,” Executive Director of Finance Cynde Frick said. “We’ll still bring in more dollars.”
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Frick said the district is publishing a maximum levy and budget authority, which sets the upper limit on what it can adopt later. The board may ultimately approve a lower levy or budget, but generally cannot approve higher figures without repeating the notice and hearing process.
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Home valuations have increased 5% on average countywide.
The median sale price of a home in Lawrence over the past two years was $325,000, according to a recently completed housing study. The owner of a home valued at $325,000 would owe the school district about $1,779 in property taxes under the proposed budget.
Property owners also pay taxes to the county, city and state. In Lawrence, property taxes break down to about 41% to Lawrence Public Schools, 32% to the county, 26% to the city and 1% to the state.
Board member Shannon Kimball said residents have asked her why the district is not pursuing a revenue-neutral budget.
“We can’t afford to be revenue neutral,” Kimball said. “There is no way we could meet all of the obligations that we have to our students and our staff and our families.”
Kimball cited employee compensation, rising insurance costs and the gap between the district’s special education expenses and state and federal funding. She said the district covered about 40% of its special education costs last year with general fund and local option budget money, while state and federal aid covered about 60%.
The board’s action Monday did not finalize the budget or mill levy.
The board is scheduled to hold its budget and revenue neutral rate hearings starting at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, when residents will have an opportunity to comment before the board considers final action.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
Read her complete bio here. Read her work for the Times at this link, and see her photography for the Times at this link.
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Courtney Lane / Lawrence TimesLawrence school board approves publishing proposed 2026-27 budget
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