Ames Community School District’s new budget is $5 million less than the previous year as they adapt to a drop in open enrollment and less state aid.
The Ames school board approved its 2026-2027 budget for $125.5 million during a meeting Monday, April 20, which is slightly less than the $130.9 million budget one year ago, and $12 million less than 2024-2025.
The budget decrease is due to fewer construction projects. The district recently completed the Ames Multi-Purpose Education Center and renovated all of its elementary playgrounds to be more inclusive.
Decreasing enrollment, state aid impact Ames CSD’s budget
Shrinking open enrollment also contributed to the budget decrease.
The Ames Community School District has just over 4,400 students, a loss of about 65 students from the previous year’s count, according to school board documents.
Enrollment has dipped in each of the last two years despite a significant jump during the 2023-24 year, when the district added 106 students. Enrollment dropped slightly in 2024-25 by about 12 students.
The enrollment dip means a new funding uptick of $377,245, though it means less served students. The amount of new revenue available is $128,840.
While State Supplemental Aid (SSA) is expected to increase by 2%, as it did for 2025-26, the support had increased by 3% in each of the two years prior. The one percent drop impacts the budget as well.
SSA for counted students is 1.04% and for served students is .35%, according to school board documents.
What are the expected property taxes for Ames CSD?
The estimated tax rate for residents within the Ames school district is $13.96, a decrease of about .09 cents from the current fiscal year. The drop is expected to generate about $49.3 million.
The property tax rate was initially proposed to be $14.04, but Senate File 2201 – which was signed into law in February – modifies several components of property tax law, Sherri Ruzek, Ames school business official and chief financial officer said.
“For Ames, this results in a lower tax rate and increased state aid, as the state will fully assume the budget guarantee that was previously funded through property taxes,” Ruzek said.
Property taxes have continued to fluctuate year over year: property taxes were $14.05 in 2025-26, $14 even in 2024-25 and $13.93 in 2023-24.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: What you need to know about the latest Ames CSD budget and state aid
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
