Hearings & Meeting Held
Fremont, Neb. – (Sep. 15, 2026) Fremont Public Schools passed their 2026-2027 Budget on a 5-0 vote during the Board of Education meeting on Monday night. The General Fund operating budget, including unused budget authority, will increase by 1.0% from $81,294,860.00 to $81,828,811.00. At the same time on the resource side, the District is experiencing a 5.38% increase in assessed valuation. The proposed budget includes a property tax levy that is being decreased by 5.55 cents, from $1.064464 to $1.008935. Additionally, $1,500,000.00 of cash reserves will be used to help balance the budget.
The levy in the General Fund will be reduced to 82.1 cents, down from 88.9 cents. The levy associated with the Bond Fund has decreased from 17.6 cents to 16.84. The Special Building Fund will be taxed at 1.97 cents this year to support our roof replacement cycle starting with sections of the middle school during the summer of 2027.
“The decrease in our total tax levy request (5.55 cents) is a reflection of the increase in assessed valuation, as well as an increase in state aid.”, stated Dr. Chris Loofe, assistant superintendent. Since our valuation and state aid increased, our board wanted to make a concerted effort to lessen the burden on our community. It is our intention to try to keep the levy as flat as possible, however if valuations were to dip or if state aid decreases, the district may see the need to increase the levy in future years to meet the needs of the district.
Fremont Public Schools General Fund budget covers personnel, instruction, transportation and most operating costs. Personnel and classroom instruction costs make up 83% of the General Fund.
A majority of the budget, 44%, is funded by property taxes. The second-largest revenue source is state aid, which funds 28% of the budget.
The Board of Education aims to maximize our resources while creating an expenditure budget which meets the district’s needs, all while being sensitive to the needs of the district’s patrons.
The budget incorporates changes due to the negotiated agreement and increases for all employee groups of 3.40%.
“Like families and businesses, school districts are navigating increased costs across many areas. Labor and staffing, supplies and materials, utilities, insurance and transportation are all contributing to the financial pressures we are managing as we work to maintain the programs and services our students need,” stated Dr. Brad Dahl, Superintendent.
The district continues to be efficient with its spending. Fremont Public Schools is ranked 7th out of 244 school districts in Nebraska in per-pupil spending; only 6 other districts in the state spend less per-pupil. The district spends $14,613 per-pupil compared to the state average of $17,645.
Monday evening’s Board of Education action on the budget and tax request were the final approvals in the budget process. Due to the district staying below the allowable growth threshold set by the state, the district is not required to attend the Dodge County LB 644 Joint Public Hearing.
Board of Education President Todd Hansen noted, “The approved budget reflects the district’s revenues and expenditures while continuing to meet the educational needs of our students and expectations of our community. It also aligns with Strategic Priority #6 of our 5-year strategic plan, Use Resources Strategically and Sustainably, which emphasizes our responsibility to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.”
###
The mission statement of the Fremont Public Schools is to produce creative, adaptable, productive citizens committed to lifelong learning.