USD 449 in Easton is the only school district in Leavenworth County that will not impose a tax increase on its patrons in the coming year, following revenue-neutral and budget hearings. School boards in Basehor-Linwood, Lansing, and Leavenworth all voted for spending and tax increases.
The four-year-old revenue-neutral law, also known as the “Truth in Taxation,” stipulates that any local government entity, including school districts, seeking to increase property taxes on its constituents must hold a public meeting to discuss the reasons for the increase, then vote to impose the hike.
Basehor-Linwood USD 458 does not stream its board meetings on YouTube. Its Board Briefs summary reported a unanimous 6-0 vote to exceed revenue neutral, after Superintendent Chris Vignery warned the district about revenue declines. A district spokesman confirmed that another unanimous 6-0 vote adopted the budget with roughly a $1 million increase in spending. There is a vacancy on the current Basehor-Linwood School Board.
At USD 469 in Lansing, the vote was 4-3 to exceed the revenue-neutral threshold in the 2025-26 budget and increase spending by $600,000. Voting for the increases were Members Aaron Yoakam, Pete Im, Jeff Bolin, and Kerry Brungardt. Opposing were Amy Cawvey, Mary Wood, and Kirstin Workman.
Public comments and the board’s discussion of revenue-neutral and the budget increase begin at the 35:35 mark.
In Leavenworth, USD 453 board members voted 5-2 to exceed revenue neutral, and the same margin approved the budget with a spending increase of $1.06 million, according to the Leavenworth Times. Members Mike Carney, Karen Overbey, Judi Price, Dannielle Wells, and Jessica Wilson voted in favor; Alisa Murphy and Vanessa Reid opposed. The public comment period leading into the votes begins the meeting.
How did Easton avoid the public hearing for those districts seeking to impose tax increases? We asked Superintendent Tim Beying:
“Easton USD 449 is paying off our bond issue in March 2026, and the Board of Education has made the decision to not seek a bond issue at this time. Instead, the mill rate will drop approximately 4.4 mills.”
