MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education approved the district’s 2026-27 budget with a property tax rate decrease of more than one mill.
Following a public hearing Monday, Aug. 24, the board unanimously approved a property tax rate of 51.364 mills. That is down 1.06 mills from the 2025-26 rate of 52.424 mills.
For a home appraised at $100,000, the district’s property tax would decrease by an estimated $12.19, from $430.38 to $418.19.
The approved mill levy includes:
- 20 mills set by the state for the general fund
- 5.546 mills for the supplemental general fund, down 0.313 mill
- 5.114 mills for capital outlay, up 3.498 mills
- 10.704 mills for bond and interest payments, down 4.245 mills
Director of Finance Abby Stockebrand said the district receives state aid covering 60.5% of its supplemental general fund, 69% of capital outlay and 67% of the current bond and interest levy.
However, the state aid rate would be 12% for new bonds, including the bond proposal scheduled to appear on the November ballot.
Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson said USD 308 was the only one among 17 area school districts reviewed by staff that did not exceed its revenue-neutral rate.
Johnson also said most of those districts have set their capital outlay levy at the maximum eight mills and their supplemental general fund authority at the maximum 33%. USD 308 approved a supplemental general fund percentage of 32.4%.
Although the district’s mill levy is decreasing, higher property valuations will result in a 1.3% increase in the total amount of local property taxes collected. Revenue is expected to rise from approximately $12.48 million to $12.64 million.