Investing Responsibly In Our Students

For the sixth consecutive year, Ralston Public Schools’ Board of Education maintained or lowered its levy request for district taxpayers.

  • Ralston Public Schools has long prioritized a stable, dependable levy for the families and homeowners of our community.  This requires careful planning and management of resources throughout the year, investing intentionally in our students, programs, and staff.

    Two independent items determine the amount a property owner pays in taxes toward Ralston Public Schools each year:

    The total RPS tax levy in 2018-19 is $1.2575 per $100 dollars of home/property valuation.  This year, the total valuation of property within Ralston Public Schools boundaries grew 2.7%.  

    Across the past five years, Ralston Public Schools’ General Fund operating budget grew by an average of 2.91%.  For comparison, the State of Nebraska’s General Fund operating budget grew by an average of 4.12% over the same period of time*.  In any school district, the largest expense is staff. Primary drivers of this year’s budget growth included negotiated raises for employees as well as the addition of some new staff (Ralston High School math as well as social/emotional support at the elementary level).  

    Thoughtful financial management has also allowed Ralston Public Schools to repay past construction bonds faster than required, saving district taxpayers money on long-term interest.  

    Members of the RPS Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the 2018-19 tax levy and budget at their September 10, 2018 meeting.

     

    *Source: http://das.nebraska.gov/accounting/budrept/buddoc17.pdf, page 4.

     
Photo from graduation
Graph showing RPS General Fund Revenue Sources
Graph showing RPS General Fund Expenditures

  • This year, property valuation assessed within Ralston Public Schools boundaries grew by 2.7%, as determined by the Douglas County Assessor.  This map compares how property valuations grew in neighboring districts, as determined by the Douglas County Assessor and the Sarpy County Assessor.  Figures were reported by individual school districts.
Map showing property valuation increases across area school districts

  • The map reveals that property values assessed within Ralston Public Schools boundaries grew by the second lowest percentage when compared with neighboring districts.