Board Approves Property Tax Rollback, Keeps 2026 Rate Unchanged

Board Approves Property Tax Rollback, Keeps 2026 Rate Unchanged On Sept. 23, the Clayton Board of Education voted to keep the District’s residential property tax rate unchanged for 2026 by approving a one-year voluntary rollback of 6.89 cents. That reduction comes on top of the 16-cent residential rollback that has been in place since voters approved Proposition E in 2019. Each year, Missouri school districts recalculate their property tax rates based on updated property values from the county assessor. This year, the value of existing residential and commercial property within the District declined slightly, which would have allowed the Board to increase the residential tax rate. Instead, the Board unanimously approved the rollback to keep the residential rate at its 2025 level. During the meeting, Board President Jason Growe emphasized the importance of carefully managing taxpayer dollars, particularly when considering the impact on residents. “The Board talked last spring about potentially looking at ways to voluntarily roll back the tax rate on the residential side, and this action accomplishes that,” he said. “This is a nice way to provide some level of tax relief to our residential taxpayers that they otherwise would not have experienced.” For 2026, the District’s property tax rates are: Although the residential tax rate will remain unchanged, an individual homeowner’s tax bill may still increase if the assessed value of their home has increased. This is because property taxes are based on both the tax rate and the assessed value of the property. Superintendent Nisha Patel, EdD, said the District expects property tax revenue to stay relatively stable in 2026. “The District remains in a strong financial position, and we continue to be thoughtful about how we use our resources,” Patel said. “Our focus is on making responsible financial decisions and prioritizing spending that supports the District’s strategic goals and the needs of our students and staff.” View the Sept. 23 tax rate presentation to learn more.