The Seward School Board on Sept. 14 adopted a “conservative” 2026-2027 budget that will allow its tax levy to drop by 3 cents per $100 property valuation.
Seward School Superintendent Josh Fields said the total amount of tax revenues the district is requesting actually increased 3% to $16.64 million, but because of increased property valuations, the district was able to lower the levy to obtain that amount.
The 2026-2027 total levy will be $0.71, of which $0.60 is for the general fund, $0.30 for building fund, and $0.08 is for the bond repayment. The total levy has dropped each year since the 2021-2022 fiscal year when it was $0.95.
The Seward School District’s property valuation grew from $2.19 billion in 2025-2026 to $2.35 billion in 2026-2027, as noted on a budget document available on the School Board’s web page.
The document also showed that the Seward district expects $2.41 million in state aid for 2026-2027, down from $2.45 million in 2025-2026
Following a Sept. 14 public hearing, the board approved a $27.13 million operating budget, of which $14.02 million is derived from property tax revenues.
The operating budget is 2% higher than the 2025-2026 operating budget, which Fields said reflects increases of about $600,000 for salaries and insurance for staff members. In addition the cost of materials, gas and other expenses have increased,
The district will also have expenditures for Spanish language and music curriculum updates in 2026-2027.
Like other entities in Seward County, the school district’s budget is below the state-designated revenue request cap, so it did not have to participate in a “pink postcard” hearing this year. But the district’s allowable growth was complicated by the county’s dip in real growth – the additional new buildings and structures added in a year – which was down from previous years.
“We understand that we are just going to have to be really cautious of our spending,” Fields said.
The levy for the district’s middle school bond remains at $0.08 and will be paid off this fiscal year.
That is consistent with the commitment the board made to voters to pay that off before the $25 million bond issue repayment begins next year, Fields said. That bond includes improvements to the high school and elementary school buildings and upgrades to the high school and middle school athletic facilities. That, too, will be paid off with the $0.08 levy starting in 2027-2028.
In addition to the lower levy, Fields said property taxpayers should again notice the tax credit that will be deducted from their tax statements under the LB34 statewide program enacted in 2024.
“If you have to pay $4,000 in property taxes, it will say that. But you will see that $1,500 or whatever dollar amount is taken off that,” Fields said.
“It has helped tremendously for property taxpayers.”
