The district previously projected it might have to raise taxes for the third year in a row. That’s because the board of education and the Park City Education Association established a three-year contract in 2023 to raise staff salaries.
The pay increases were meant to keep Park City competitive and give teachers a more livable wage. Teachers, secretaries, custodians and other salaried employees got a 16% pay increase in 2023 with another 6% increase slated for the next two years. The agreement also made the starting salary for first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree above $60,000.
As a result, taxes increased for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. But, Board President Meredith Reed said they wanted to avoid a tax hike for 2026.
Superintendent Lyndsay Huntsman said avoiding the tax increase was a team effort.
“As people have left, we've looked at ways in which we can absorb positions and really being stewards of our taxpayer dollars,” she said on KPCW’s “Local News Hour” May 22.
Enrollment is expected to decline in the district again this year and with Treasure Mountain Junior High closing, Huntsman said some areas were overstaffed.
The district will also pull $2.6 million from its reserves.
“There will be a one-time fund from our fund balance that will shift over into our budget to avoid the tax increase,” Huntsman said. “That is not something that's sustainable, and we don't intend to do it in future years, but we have a healthy fund balance which affords us this opportunity to do it one time.”
While the district will not raise taxes, some taxpayers may still see an increase. Huntsman said that’s because there’s a basic school levy set by the state that may increase. Homeowners may also see a bump if their home’s value increases.
The district’s budget will be finalized at a state-mandated public hearing June 17.
