LPS could reduce property tax levy by even more than planned under next budget

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The average homeowner would see their school property taxes go down under the proposed budget for Lincoln Public Schools.

The school board held a hearing Monday that was one of the final chances for the community to voice concerns.

In June, the district unveiled a $560 million budget that would increase spending by about $20 million but reduce the property tax levy by 7 cents.

Most of the increase will go toward salary and benefit boosts for staff.

SEE ALSO: ‘We are proud of this budget’: LPS raises spending by $20 million but lowers tax levy

But Liz Standish, the associate superintendent of business affairs, said the district was able to lower the tax levy even more than expected.

“You’re always balancing what we need to do to serve children — because that’s the most important thing we can do — and what we can do for the community as a whole,” she said.

Standish said every homeowner’s circumstance will differ based on how their property valuation changes.

Values are going up around 8.6% this year, making the average home worth about $315,000.

That, plus extra funding from the state, allowed LPS to lower its levy by almost 9 cents.

Under this proposal, the average homeowner would see their property tax bill for the school district go down by $7.

SEE ALSO: ‘Just dirt and weeds’: LPS student gets more than 1,000 signatures to improve schoolyards

“I believe it was a really successful budget year,” Standish said. “I believe we had a lot of information out in the community.”

She said the district got a lot of input from the people of Lincoln over the past couple of months.

“Probably the most major takeaway is we have heard about outdoor spaces — both playgrounds and grass and fields, things like that,” she said. “So that is something our planning committee will take a look at this year.”