The Mehlville Board of Education is considering a new, zero-tax rate increase proposal that would adapt local levies in the hopes of annually generating $1.4 million for routine maintenance and infrastructure in the school district.
The proposal would be placed on a future ballot for November 2025 or April 2026.
“When we maintain our facilities, we protect our community resources and the environment where learning happens,” Jeff Haug, the district’s superintendent, said in a release. “A classroom with a leaky roof or unreliable technology infrastructure distracts from learning. A well-maintained school helps students and staff stay focused, safe and comfortable.”
The proposition would make the Proposition A capital levy of 3.26 cents — passed by voters in 2015 and set to expire in the 2026 fiscal year — permanent. The levy brings in $822,000 each year, and 80% of the funding has been spent in the replacement of aging roofs.
The proposition would also use a tax transfer from the Proposition S service levy to generate another $605,000 in annual revenue. Since a 2.4 cent portion of the levy is no longer required for the district to meet minimum debt service payments, those 2.4 cents would be redirected to the operating fund.
Altogether, this would generate $1.4 million annually without raising taxes. Ballot language would require that these funds be used to replace buses and maintain roofing, parking lots, technology, security and other essentials.
This proposal would alleviate the routine costs of running a school district. The district annually spends $850,000 on roofing, $700,000 on school buses, $325,000 on asphalt and parking lot maintenance and $450,000 on technology equipment and infrastructure.
“We’ve seen what happens when maintenance gets deferred,” chief financial officer Marshall Crutcher said in a release. “It forces the district into expensive ‘catch-up’ mode. This proposition would help us avoid that.”
The Mehlville Board of Education will continue discussing this proposal through the summer. If the board hopes to put this on the November ballot, they will have until August to make a decision; if they hope to put it on the April 2026 ballot, they have until January. After that, it’s up to the voters.
Later this summer, the public will have the opportunity to take a survey and give feedback on this proposition.