Money Talks, Special Edition: Tax Levy Adoption (October 2026)

This special October 2026 edition of Money Talks focused on the practical work of adopting, explaining, and communicating a school district tax levy. Mike Barry, Brian Adesso, and Sarah Viera discussed how districts present the impacts of vouchers and independent charter schools, explain the relationship between the adopted levy and school levy tax credits, prepare school boards for final budget and levy decisions, and work with municipalities during levy certification and tax-bill preparation. The conversation also covered strategies for communicating with taxpayers and local media, maintaining consistency when taking over a new district's budget process, understanding preliminary, original, and revised budgets, and building strong internal checks to make sure levy calculations are accurate before they reach the board. October 2026 Money Talks Special Edition Highlights: • Levy Certification and Municipal Relationships: Review the timeline for adopting and certifying the levy, including the value of communicating directly with municipal clerks, obtaining confirmation that certifications were received, and building relationships that can support smoother financial operations throughout the year. • Explaining the Levy: Consider how to clearly show voucher and independent charter school levy impacts, distinguish between the adopted levy and the amount taxpayers may ultimately see after school levy tax credits, and avoid oversimplifying individual property-tax impacts. Preparing the School Board: Keep key revenue-limit, enrollment, equalization-aid, and levy factors in front of board members throughout the year so October decisions do not come as a surprise. New business officials should also review prior-year materials and local practices before significantly changing the district's established process. • Community and Media Communication: Explore practical ways to explain the levy after adoption, including tax-bill messaging, district summaries, press releases, social media, presentation summary slides, and concise talking points that help board members respond accurately to community questions. • Budget Adoption and Accuracy: Understand the distinctions among preliminary, original, and revised budgets, including the supermajority requirement for later revisions, and build independent double- and triple-checks into the process before presenting final levy numbers to the board.