The annual revenue neutral rate and budget hearings for USD 413 were held at Chanute Elementary School on Wednesday, Sept. 3, with no public comment.
“Essentially, the county comes out and says: in order to stay revenue neutral — meaning, to not get any more revenue this year, than what you got last year — this is what you would tax citizens, this is the mill rate that would keep you at revenue neutral,” Superintendent Matt Koester said, to explain what a revenue neutral rate is.
The revenue neutral rate would be 54.880; USD413’s proposed tax levy is roughly one mill higher at 55.889, which equates to $5,189,650 levied.
The mills are split between several district funds: the general fund, which by state statute is 20 mills, $1,484,709; the supplemental general or local option budget adds 15.920 mills, $1,622,447; capital outlay, 8 mills, $862,671; and bond and interest, 11.969, $1,219,823.
In the published budget, it is noted that the Chanute Recreation Commission levies 6 total mills, $611,416 levied.
“We do not control the recreation commission; we only allow them to levy taxes through our taxing entity,” Koester said.
Koester noted that the district’s budget is based on the best estimate that can be made with data from previous years and calculations completed on Form 150.
The total tax dollars levied in the proposed budget, including the mills dedicated to the Chanute Recreation Commission, is $5,801,066.
Board members voted to approve and adopt the revenue neutral rate and the budget as published for the 2025’26 school year.
After these hearings, the board members joined building administrators and new teachers for a dinner in the CES cafeteria, prepared by food service staff. Chanute High School’s Family Community Career Leaders of America club served beverages, desserts, and collected plates from attendees.
Food Service Director Terri Markham said that the meal was a preview of a new meal students will get to try in the schools next month during National School Lunch Week: orange chicken, fried rice, chicken or pork egg rolls, roasted vegetable blend, and pineapples.
After the dinner, the board reconvened to continue with regular business.
In the consent agenda, the board accepted a donation of $313.64 from the First United Methodist Church for Debbie’s Fund. They also approved participation in the Mental Health Intervention Team Grant, an award totaling $74,621, committing $26,117 in district funds.
In reports, CES Assistant Principal Maggie Wolken and Mental Health Liaison Taryn Sigler reported on the summer learning program. In total, 98 students attended the June program, which is open to all students in the district between kindergarten and fifth grade, according to Sigler.
On average, Wolken said 109-120 students attended each day of the July program. Wolken noted that students in the July program were recommended by their teachers during parent-teacher conferences for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Wolken said 190 students in total were recommended.
Koester highlighted that the district has 1,568 students enrolled, and noted that kindergarten enrollment was low, at 87 students.
Assistant Superintendent Heather Burris highlighted that there are two new full-day preschool classes for four-yearolds, which were created to help address the daycare shortage in the district. At Chanute Early Learning Center, Burris said there are four half-day classes, morning sessions for three-year-olds, and afternoon sessions for four-year-olds.
The next Chanute Public Schools Board of Education meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the district office located at 321 E. Main St., Chanute. Agendas and documents can be viewed at https://meetings.boardbook. org/Public/Organization/2345.
