USD 231 Gardner-Edgerton passed a revenue-neutral budget for this school year, but only after an effort to exceed revenue-neutral failed by one vote in the short-handed body.
The board has operated this year with six members since Keith Davenport resigned after announcing his candidacy and winning last year, moving out of his board district. The board could not reach a consensus on a replacement, according to reporting in the Johnson County Post, and decided to leave the position open until the next election.
Assistant Superintendent Ben Boothe put a positive spin on the budget vote:
“The Board approved USD 231’s 2026–27 budget without exceeding the revenue-neutral rate. This requires approximately $1.9 million in reductions in planned operating spending, along with $1.1 million less in projected bond and interest revenue. Specific spending adjustments are still being developed.”
But reporting by the Post reveals a proposed budget calling for increased taxes had to be scuttled September 14th, when the board failed to approve exceeding spending from last year. Four votes were required to approve the budget with the property tax increase. With President Tom Reddin absent, only three “Yes” votes were counted: Julie Aldridge, Heath Freeman, and Katie Williams. Board members Jeff Miller and Lana Sutton voted against the tax increase.
Reddin told the Post he would have cast the fourth vote in favor of the original budget.
The council hurriedly drew up and approved an alternative budget on September 16th, just days before a state-imposed September 20th deadline for budget approvals under the five-year-old Truth in Taxation law. While property taxes won’t increase, the Gardner-Edgerton district is still budgeted to spend $21,211 per student this year.
Gardner-Edgerton Vice President Freeman said afterward he sees trouble ahead for the revenue-neutral budget:
“[The budget] was a reflection of months of effort. This did not happen overnight. This didn’t happen in a single meeting. This was dozens of opportunities for individuals — the board, taxpayers, staff, anyone in the community — to bring forth either their revisions, their concerns, their proposed changes or what we should do differently.”
But member Lana Sutton, who voted against the original budget, said her vote was a reflection of the sentiment of her constituents:
“Property taxes are the number one concern in our community, especially for families already struggling financially. Thirty-nine percent of students in USD 231 qualify for free or reduced-price meals, underscoring the financial challenges many families face. Remaining revenue neutral saves taxpayers just over 4 mills, while the amount available for the district’s budget still increases. Some may choose to laugh at the amount of savings, but every dollar matters to these families.”
