More details of the budget hearing for North Platte public schools, and the discussion that was held on Thursday, Sept. 24:

During nearly three hours of testimony and discussion, taxpayers warned the North Platte school board and administrators that higher property taxes will strain their households, businesses and the North Platte economy.

At the same time, teachers said it is important to protect educational offerings and student opportunities.

Administrators gave the board a choice of increases — options A-D. They ultimately approved Option C on a 3-2 vote, then approved the accompanying property-tax request, 4-1.

Option C increases the district’s total property-tax request by 13.64%, to $35.8 million, for the 2026-27 school year.

Before voting, the board heard competing statements about what the increase and potential spending cuts would mean for the community and the schools.

And, Facilities Manager Jim Ayers said costly repairs to buildings are just ahead, while board members questioned past spending decisions, discussed potential savings, and pressed for clearer communication from administrators.

The budget hearing was part of the board’s regular committee of the whole meeting, which is normally a non-voting meeting devoted to hearing reports about school programs, finances and staffing. This time, the board took action too, voting to approve the budget for the coming year and the property tax increase needed to fund it.

To accommodate public comments, the board extended the usual 30-minutes allotment of time for comments, and kept the normal five-minute limit per speaker. Teachers spoke first so they could return to parent-teacher conferences that were held the same day and lasted into the evening.

Critical testimony

Business owner Eric Weizorek said property-tax increases reach beyond the people receiving the bills. “When it hits me, it hits the consumer, and when the consumer gets hit, then everything slows down,” he said.

Weizorek described work at his business has slowed and he has met with his accountant to consider changes. Higher taxes on his rental properties will also affect tenants who were already struggling, he said.

He urged the district to examine its administrative structure and spending before asking taxpayers for more, while making specific needs known to those in the community that already support students through fundraisers.

“I don’t want to see any teachers get cut,” Weizorek said. “If you really care about the kids, let’s evaluate from the top all the way down,” he said.

Tony Whitman, who worked for the railroad for 32 years, waved his property-tax notices in the air to show his frustration with repeated increases.

He said he previously accepted the tax increases because schools and teachers need support, but rising expenses prompt him to look more closely. “We love our kids,” Whitman said. “Give us a break, finally.”

Later in the hearing, Whitman asked why residents should be expected to borrow or cut household expenses to meet another increase. He urged higher-paid administrators to consider pay cuts before teachers lost jobs.

Glenna Brissey, a 71-year-old retiree whose family operates farm-ranch north of town, said higher property values do not produce more income.

Drought had already cost the ranch a month of pasture rent, she said, while insurance, equipment, fuel, and other costs continue to rise substantially.

“When property taxes rise, retirees are already making very difficult choices when it comes to food and utilities and insurance,” Brissey said. “Every additional dollar in property taxes has to come from somewhere.”

She asked what spending has been reduced, eliminated, or deferred, and what results taxpayers would see for the additional funding.

“Please do not simply ask taxpayers to pay more because the district has the authority to collect it,” she said.

William Wood, a small-business owner with rental properties, urged a compromise.

“A is not the answer. D is not the answer,” he said.

Wood praised teachers but supported Option B, which provided $500,000 toward rebuilding reserves. He warned against establishing a pattern of turning taxpayers whenever the district faced a shortfall.

“We want to encourage… we want to be part of this community,” he said. “We absolutely have limits. And 15% (increase) is not a good starting point.”

Shelby Bassett said she supports strong schools, and recognizes the district’s financial problems.

“Why can’t the reserve fund be built over time?” she asked.

Others questioned academic results and whether the district is adequately preparing students for life after graduation.

Greg Renner said teachers make a difference, but criticized administrative compensation and the district’s proficiency rates.

Chad McCarty urged the district to determine why students are leaving and demonstrate better results. “The answer is not more money,” he said.

Brandi McCarty called for a substantial budget overhaul and urged the board to choose Option A. She said past financial decisions should not create further hardship for residents.

Jim Whitney said “the public deserves a clear explanation of how we got into this situation. And why were we not able to plan better for the situation that we’re in now?”

Whitney thanked board members for their service and urged them to apply lessons from past decisions to future budgets. “If mistakes were made in the past, let’s make sure that we don’t make those same mistakes again,” he said.

County commissioner Joe Hewgley urged residents and officials to identify specific spending concerns and hold those responsible for purchasing decisions accountable. He also noted that paying employees accounts for 80-85% of school spending. He discussed the financial consequences of students attending other districts.

“I ask what got us into this situation. We haven’t always been here,” Hewgley said.

Supporting testimony

Teachers and supporters described the opportunities and services they feared losing.

Alice Boyer, speaking as a teacher, parent, and taxpayer, said she was willing to pay more to protect staffing and programs. She described her children’s participation in sports, student organizations, and dual-credit classes.

“Not every school can provide students with a wide variety of dual credit opportunities, simply because they don’t have the staff that offers them,” she said. “We do, and that is something worth protecting.”

Boyer urged approval of Option D but also supported examining expenses. She suggested a committee of administrators, teachers, and support staff identify savings. “I fully support looking at areas where the budget can be responsibly trimmed, but I also believe that people doing the work every day should be part of that discussion,” she said.

Tessa Matuszczak, a high school life-skills teacher, described students with complex medical and behavioral needs whose education depends on paraprofessionals, student-services staff, and other support.

“I cannot do this alone,” she said. “We are supposed to be a team. We are supposed to be a community that supports each other, and all works together.”

Phil Wiley, a high school teacher, said negative descriptions of students as under-educated at a previous public hearing do not reflect his experience as a teacher and parent.

He described his children’s opportunities in the schools, and the support they received from the staff. He said some programs use grants and community contributions, showing that the district is already finding other ways to support students.

Wiley said teachers had felt earlier budget cuts. He sometimes hesitated to request a new opportunity because funding it could take resources from another teacher’s ideas.

He urged approval of Option D while supporting more examination of spending. After his remarks, board President Emily Garrick clarified that the board did not make disparaging comments about students.

The North Platte Education Association’s president, Kenzie Mollring, also supported Option D. She said educators are taxpayers, property owners, and business owners who feel the increase, but are concerned about the effects on students if funds are not increased.

Without increased tax revenue, she is concerned about job losses, possible school closures, curriculum purchases, and classroom support.

“Teachers are concerned that our schools are going to close due to the budget shortfall,” she said. Mollring said teachers are not always provided the materials needed for daily tasks, including office supplies such as binder clips. She said students are affected when staff is unavailable to support their academic and social needs.

Later in the hearing, business owner Sarah Talbott said her children are thriving in North Platte schools. She said one child who had received special-education services has progressed to the 4.0 honor roll.

She read an article arguing that public schools must serve every child, including those whose transportation, medical care, or instruction is expensive. She urged listeners to distinguish between waste and the cost of providing those services.

Businessman Eric Seacrest called for adequate cash reserves, planning for aging buildings, and clear explanations of the consequences of budget decisions.

“Virtually every organization ought to strive to have enough unrestricted cash reserves so that they don’t have to regularly borrow money,” he said.

Seacrest urged the district to address maintenance needs in a planned, cost-efficient way and explore more funding sources.

Building maintenance, repairs

In a separate part of the meeting, Facilities Director James Ayers gave a report about the maintenance needs that are facing the district — roof replacements, aging heating and cooling equipment, outdated fire-alarm panels, stadium repairs, and transportation vehicles that will need to be replaced.

Replacing the high school’s entire HVAC system will cost about $4.1 million. Ayers said the building has 151 HVAC units, with two currently not functioning properly. Board members questioned whether all units needed replacement at once; Ayers said they do not, but failures are becoming more frequent as the 23-year old equipment ages.

Upgrades at Jefferson Elementary, including HVAC, climate efficient doors and windows, are estimated at around $2 million. Ayers said replacement parts are increasingly difficult to obtain for an aging boiler at Adams Middle School and fire-alarm systems.

He outlined a roof repair schedule intended to bring the district back into its regular replacement rotation by 2030 after work was postponed in recent years.

Garrick challenged any suggestion that the school board directed the delays in roof repairs and maintenance. She said board members believed the work on the roofs was budgeted and maintained on schedule.

Interim Superintendent Virginia Moon said the district’s needed to borrow from its depreciation fund to meet payroll, which delayed the work on the roofs. Money spent on roofs meant it would no longer be available to borrow for payroll, she said.

Ayers also said the stadium artificial turf is worn. The track needs resurfacing, and aging light poles are a safety concern.

Transportation needs

Discussing transportation, he said the district’s newest coach buses are 2008 models. A bus carrying students to Kearney broke down that day, requiring another bus to retrieve them. He said breakdowns and driver shortages are reasons the district sometimes hires charter buses.

Cost savings

Ayres reported a couple examples of savings. He said switching trash-service providers saved about $24,000 annually. Changing soap suppliers also reduced costs, with replacement dispensers provided as part of the arrangement.

Moon said departments would be asked to examine spending and identify efficiencies. Board members requested further opportunities to review detailed costs and ask questions.

During budget discussion, Moon disputed claims that the district has not reduced spending. She cited administrative consolidation, staffing reductions, school closures, and deferred maintenance.

Financial pressure

She said the district’s financial problems developed over several years and that rebuilding reserves is necessary to reduce reliance on borrowing between funds to meet payroll.

Officials also cited a $1.6 million reduction in state aid. Assistant Superintendent Damon McDonald said the district’s cash-reserve shortfall is around $6 million.

Option B provided approximately $500,000 toward rebuilding reserves, Option C provided $1 million, and Option D $1.5 million, McDonald said.

McDonald said even Option D would require more spending reductions and would not fund all the major capital needs outlined in the maintenance report.

Board members questioned how long recovery would take under each option. McDonald said $500,000 annually would take 12 years to cover a $6 million shortfall, if nothing else changes. He said spending reductions could shorten that period, while losses in revenue, or increased costs, mean more delays.

Communicating with the board

The discussion also exposed frustration over the lack of clear communication about steps that have been taken already to keep expenses in check.

Administrators referred to added responsibilities, shared office staff, and reductions in special education and student services.

Board member Angela Blaessi said the board was not advised of the extent of those changes, but needed that information to explain spending decisions to residents.

Garrick said the board has been blamed for decisions in which it had not participated.

“The board has been used as a scapegoat because we were not part of the conversation, and it was communicated that it came from us,” she said.

She called for future cuts to come before the board for discussion, saying elected officials should be involved in the consequences of school budget decisions. “I don’t need you to protect me,” Garrick said.

Administrators acknowledged communication gaps, while also encouraging board members to ask questions and visit their offices.

Looking ahead

The board discussed reviewing positions as employees retire or leave, rather than automatically hiring replacements. Moon said declining elementary enrollment will eventually reach the middle and high schools. At that time, staffing could be reduced through attrition — in other words, not automatically replacing those who retire or leave.

Board members also spoke of rising health-insurance costs and whether the district can seek other providers or arrangements. Moon said changes to benefits could require negotiations with the teachers’ union, and considerable lead time.

Weighing the options

As the time to vote approached, Garrick supported Option B. She said that option begins rebuilding reserves while requiring the district to follow through on spending changes. She said with the district facing a state-aid reduction and sharply higher insurance costs this year, it is not the time to replace the majority of the shortage in reserves.

Moon said choosing Options A or B would require more immediate measures, including eliminating overtime, imposing a hiring freeze, and potentially restructuring the high school schedule in the second semester.

She described the approach of another district where classes were combined. Teachers covered absences during an assigned period, reducing the costs of substitute teachers.

She said options C and D would allow more time to plan reductions. She also said that cuts will be necessary under every option.

The board first rejected Option B, 2-3. Garrick and Angela Blaesi voted yes; JoAnn Lundgreen, Cindy O’Connor, and Mitch Wagner voted no.

Next, the board voted on Option D. During discussion, Garrick warned that approving it could undermine public trust and leave residents feeling their concerns were not heard.

Option D failed 2-3, with Lundgreen and O’Connor voting yes. Garrick, Blaesi, and Wagner were opposed.

Wagner then joined Lundgreen and O’Connor to approve Option C. Garrick and Blaesi voted no.

After a brief recess, the accompanying property-tax request passed 4-1. Blaesi joined the majority, while Garrick remained opposed.

Before that vote, Garrick said that her objection centers on the tax request associated with the budget. She urged the district to pursue more grants and other revenue sources.

© 2026 The North Platte Bulletin. All rights reserved!