Des Moines Public Schools’ budget is going up — and so are your property taxes.
The Des Moines School Board unanimously voted Tuesday, April 21, to approve the district’s budget to $782.4 million for the coming 2026-27 school year. The vote also increases the property tax rate to $16.05 per $1,000 of assess property value.
The school board also amended the district’s overall 2025-26 school year budget, raising it to $692.6 million. That still means an $89.8 million increase for the coming school year.
This year’s amended budget includes:
Months earlier, officials announced the need to make roughly $17.9 million in cuts ahead of next school year. The changes included switching the district’s employee health care plan, cutting positions through attrition, making staffing changes, selling at least one building and using about $1.5 million from the general fund reserves.
What’s included in next year’s budget increase?
The 2026-27 budget has $24.5 million in new spending, including $1.7 million related to the district’s five-year Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools plan.
Another $8.6 million will go to new expenses including curriculum and $14.2 million will cover ongoing costs such as employee salaries and benefits.
In November, voters passed a 20-year, $265 million Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools general obligation bond that will be used to pay construction and design costs for the project. The plan aims to improve student academic outcomes and retention and classroom offerings.
Keep reading to find out more about newly approved 2026-27 school year budget.
How much will the new tax rate cost me?
The bond is behind the district’s tax rate increase from $14.61 to $16.05 per $1,000 valuation on a home.
On a $315,000 home (the median sale price in Des Moines), property owners would pay about $5,055.75 for the DMPS portion of their tax bill.
What is driving DMPS’ budget deficit?
State aid and declining enrollment have been cited as the main causes for the district’s roughly $17.9 million shortfall, DMPS officials say.
Going forward DMPS officials estimate they will lose about 550 students a year through at least the 2030-31 school year.
What is next for Reimagining Education?
As part of the plan, the 2025-26 school year will be the final year for Moulton and Walnut Street elementary schools.
Moulton will be razed in the fall in preparation for the new Moulton Arts Academy to be built. Some administrative offices will move to Walnut Street building as the district continues to shutter its central office.
Moulton students will attend classes at the Kurtz Opportunity Center until the new school opens.
Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines Public Schools to increase budget – and your property taxes
Reporting by Samantha Hernandez, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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