Riverview business manager recommends 2.23% tax increase

Riverview School District’s business manager doubled down on her recommendation for a tax increase for next school year.

Business manager Sheila Lubert once again recommended a 2.23% tax increase for 2025-26 during the school board’s June 2 agenda meeting after reviewing the district’s proposed budget.

The 0.5591-mill real estate tax hike for 2025-26 would be used to cover expenses including anticipated increases for technology cost due to tariffs and “mandatory” security guard staffing, Lubert previously told TribLive.

After the board passed a tentative budget in May, the district was looking at about $28.45 million in expenditures and about $28.33 million in revenue. Even with the proposed tax increase, there was a $115,000 deficit.

During the June meeting, Lubert presented the proposed budget again with a few changes that closed the deficit but included the same tax hike.

Based on past property tax collection rates, she upped the collection percentage projection, effectively adding about $65,000 in revenue. Lubert also calculated the anticipated interest rates that helped close the deficit. She said she was hesitant to rely on interest rate returns.

“As your business manager, I’m a little nervous about how rates are falling. I’m a little concerned about what’s happening in the world with prices going up, and tariffs and how the normal person — how we will be able to pay for everything,” Lubert said.

School Directors Stefani Garibay and Anthony Paris were vocal about their reservations about raising taxes. Garibay suggested the board forgo a millage increase and take the almost $387,000 the tax increase adds to the district’s revenue out of the district’s reserve fund.

“It doesn’t make sense to let (the money) just sit there,” she said.

Superintendent Neil English said the district has a reserve fund for committed expenditures that will be used for emergencies and to complete future projects. The board voted to use a portion of the emergency funds to minimize a tax increase last budget season.

English said there are three major projects planned for the district, including a Riverview High School cafeteria renovation, a project to replace Verner Elementary School’s windows and to replace 10th Street Elementary School’s gym floor.

“We have money committed to projects, but whether or not those projects get off the ground is (to be determined),” Paris said.

He said while there’s money set aside for the kitchen renovation project, the district might not see that project completed for years due to rising costs.

Board President Wendy Wilton said rising costs is why the board should be raising taxes, even if it’s by a small amount, to make sure Riverview remains secure.

“If we don’t raise taxes even just a little bit, we’re losing money year after year, while our costs go up year after year. And if we keep taking that money out of our reserve, we’re chipping away at our foundation for emergency funds,” Wilton said. “I’m concerned about not doing anything when we know costs are going up.”

English said about 85% of the district’s budget is non-discretionary, non-negotiable costs.

“Then you have 15% that are sort of discretionary costs, but some of those are things we talked about like paper and books and curriculum, and things like that,” English said.

He said the board strives to find ways to remain cost-neutral while looking for a way to improve programming.

The board will vote on a final budget June 16.