(Griswold) Griswold School District Business Official Dan Rold shared that the proposed property tax dollar levy for the fiscal year 2026 has changed minimally compared to the previous year. The Griswold School Board convened on Monday, starting with the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget hearing. The district is mandated to conduct two budget hearings. Shared Superintendent Dave Henrichs noted that the first hearing must occur after March 20, while the second must be completed by the end of April.
Henrichs explained that the proposed budget is contingent upon a two percent state supplemental aid rate, which the legislature has yet to determine. If the state increases this rate, the school district’s tax levy will decrease. The proposed levy rate is $12.72 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, a slight drop from last year’s rate of $12.73. Should the state approve an SSA of 2.25 percent, the levy could further decrease by two cents to $12.70. Henrichs says the proposal seeks an additional $149,951.00 in total property tax dollars, representing a 3.6 percent increase from the prior year.
Henrichs also mentioned that, beyond the district’s annual payments for general obligation bonds, including principal and interest, there is a plan to pay down the G.O. bond ahead of schedule, resulting in a savings of $82,050 for local taxpayers. Over the years, Henrichs indicated that the district has consistently paid ahead since the bond referendum, totaling $323,250 in savings for taxpayers.
