"Budget, Buildings, & Healthy Cash Reserves" - A Message from Mr. Fisher

A message from Superintendent Matt Fisher:

Officially moving out of the summer season and into the fall season is a sure indicator that the school budget season is also wrapping up. The fiscal year for schools in Nebraska runs from September 1st through August 31st. When the finances for one year are closed out it is critical that the budget for the year ahead be set in place.

On September 21st the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education held their annual budget workshop. At this meeting they reviewed the current financial position of the district.  They considered current and future needs, and discussed what funding needed to be included in the budget for the 2026 - 27 school year.

Following the workshop the board conducted public hearings to hear input on the budget and the setting of the tax levy needed to support that budget.

Budget Growth: 

Protecting the interests of our local property tax payers was particularly challenging this year as the district faced a nearly $12 million reduction in state aid. This loss in funding from the state, along with continued rising costs for staff and goods, along with increased demand for special services created a challenging budget environment.
 

In order to accommodate the increase in costs for goods and services the district budget had to grow by almost 4 percent. Luckily with the spending cuts that were made a couple of years ago the district is in a solid enough financial position to be able to handle this rising costs and lower state aid situation while maintaining a tax levy equivalent to last year's. 
 

Building Projects: 

With the budget last year the GIPS board made a commitment to putting monies into the special building fund to be able to take on some needed facility projects without needing to come to the community for bond dollars. Some of those dollars are being put to use this year to fund a much needed update to our Gates Elementary building. The 2026-27 budget again includes adding money to this fund to tackle other facility needs.
 

Prioritizing Cash Reserves: 

A key focus for the budgeting process for the past several years has been building the cash reserves the district has. Being able to tap into those reserves to help offset some of the loss of state funding we experienced this year was a critical part of why we did not have to increase the tax levy. Looking ahead to a legislative session where the state is facing a significant deficit we know that school funding cuts are likely. The healthy reserves that we have built, nor the growth of Grand Island may be enough to keep us from having to move to higher levy rates in the future.  
 

For the moment though, we can enjoy the fact that for three straight years the levy rate did move down, and this year it is holding flat. The district’s cash reserves are healthy. We are able to address necessary facility needs without the need for bond funding.

We are serving the needs of our students and doing it in a financially prudent manner.  

#WeAreGIPS 

- Matt Fisher, GIPS Superintendent