Excelsior Springs, Mo. (March 19, 2025)—Voters will soon decide on a proposed tax levy increase that would provide additional funding for the school district. The increase is primarily intended to raise teacher and staff salaries. The Excelsior Springs School District (ESSD) has placed the measure on the April 8, 2025, municipal ballot, where residents will determine whether to approve the adjustment.
The Levy Proposal
The Excelsior Springs School District’s tax levy is made up of different parts, with the overall levy representing the total amount of money collected from local taxes to fund schools. Within that, the operating levy is the portion used for everyday expenses like teacher and staff salaries, classroom materials, utilities, and student programs. This levy proposal specifically seeks to increase the operating levy to ensure the district can offer competitive pay and retain high-quality educators.
The official ballot language is as follows:
Shall the Board of Education of Excelsior Springs School District #40 be authorized to increase the operating tax levy ceiling to $5.3089 per $100 of assessed valuation according to the 2025 assessment for general operating expenses of the District, including increasing compensation for employees to attract and retain quality faculty and staff?
If this question is approved, the operating tax levy of the District is estimated to increase by $0.70 per $100 of assessed valuation.
If successful, the measure would increase the overall levy rate from $5.2262 to $5.9262. This additional revenue would go to teacher and staff salaries, addressing pay gaps identified in a third-party compensation study.
The Need for the Levy
Deputy Superintendent Mark Bullimore, who will assume the role of superintendent on June 1, presented details of the levy proposal at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday, March 19. He emphasized that ESSD has successfully improved facilities and maintained staffing levels without a voter tax rate increase for over 20 years but now faces a critical need to adjust salaries.
“We’ve reached the point where we need help from our community,” Bullimore said. “Since 2005, the district has been underfunded by the state at eight times the rate of inflation. This levy is essential to keeping talented educators in Excelsior Springs.”
A compensation study completed earlier this year revealed that ESSD teachers earn approximately $1,400 below the median salary for their experience level compared to surrounding districts, putting them about 3.5% behind key salary benchmarks. Support staff wages are 14% below the regional average, while according to the study, administrative staff salaries lag by 23%.
Over the past five years, the district has already increased base teacher salaries by $6,000 and raised entry-level classified pay by approximately $4 per hour to remain competitive. However, additional operating funds are now necessary to sustain these commitments and continue improving staff pay.
“This isn’t about making anyone rich,” Bullimore added. “It’s about making sure we’re competitive enough to keep the great teachers and staff who are already here.”
Impact on Homeowners
For homeowners, the levy would increase property taxes based on home valuation. A homeowner with a $225,000 property would see an estimated annual increase of $299, which breaks down to about $24 per month. The increase would be used primarily for salary enhancements, with 78.2% allocated to teacher pay, 17.9% to classified staff, and 3.9% to administration.
During the luncheon, local pastor Chad Wagner confronted Bullimore over the impact on taxpayers, asking, “Do you think it’s fair to ask the community to take on this burden?”
Bullimore acknowledged the concern but stressed the necessity of the levy. “About half of our teachers live in this community, and they are also affected by these taxes,” he said. “At the same time, they’re the people shaping our kids’ futures. We have done everything possible to avoid this, but without additional funding, we risk losing great educators to higher-paying districts.”
Wagner also questioned why the district could not reallocate funds or reduce administrative staff to cover the cost. Bullimore responded that the district has already reduced its administrative team by three positions in the last three years, in addition to cutting 10 overall staff members. “What I cannot do as a district leader is publicly advocate for continued staff cuts,” Bullimore said. “If we do that, current employees may feel uncertain about their future here, and potential applicants may look elsewhere for more stability.”
What Happens If the Levy Fails?
If the proposed levy does not pass, the district has indicated it may face difficult financial decisions to sustain educational quality. Possible consequences include:
- Increasing class sizes due to potential staff reductions.
- Reducing or eliminating extracurricular programs, advanced academic courses, and STEM initiatives to offset budget constraints.
- Cutting after-school programs and student support services, which many families rely on.
- Reducing support staff positions, impacting custodial, food service, and other essential roles that keep schools running efficiently.
ESSD has a history of securing funding for facility improvements through no-tax-increase bond measures, which have helped remodel the high school commons, renovate Elkhorn Elementary, and construct two new elementary schools. However, these funds were legally restricted to capital improvements and could not be used for salaries.
“Our focus has always been on fiscal responsibility,” Bullimore said. “Now we need to invest in our people the same way we’ve invested in our buildings.”
During the presentation, Bullimore emphasized that this levy is a long-term investment in retaining quality educators and maintaining a strong school system. The additional funding would allow for sustainable salary improvements and prevent further reductions in reserve balances.
Community members can review detailed information about the levy on the district’s website and are encouraged to contact the district with any questions before casting their votes on April 8.
Dr. Bullimore will also attend the upcoming Candidate Forum, which will be held on April 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Excelsior Springs Branch of the Midcontinent Public Library. There, he will present more information and answer questions.
See a copy of the presentation slides presented at the Chamber luncheon below below:
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