Rockwood School Board Approves 2026 Tax Levy

The Rockwood Board of Education approved the 2026 tax rate at its Sept. 29 meeting. The rate, approved by the Missouri State Auditor, is $3.8920. This is an increase of $0.0104 from last year’s tax rate of $3.8816. A small increase is typical in a non-reassessment year, and 2026 is a non-reassessment year.

The 2026 tax rate represents a decrease of nearly 17 percent from 10 years ago and nearly 6 percent from five years ago.

Rockwood Director of Finance Dan Steinbruegge noted a couple significant factors that went into setting the 2026 tax rate. First, a non-reassessment year usually carries only a small change in assessed valuation (AV) compared to the prior year. The district’s AV increased less than 1 percent over the 2025 total AV and stands at $6 billion. 

A second significant factor is maintaining the promises of Proposition 3, the levy transfer from Debt Service to Capital Projects approved by voters in November 2023. The transfer was completed in setting the 2025 tax rate, and the 2026 tax rate maintains the Capital Projects portion of the operating levy at $0.62 and the Debt Service levy at $0.14. The Debt Service levy remains sufficient to satisfy remaining general obligation bond principal and interest, and Prop 3 funding for school safety, technology, and facilities cycle maintenance is estimated to total $30.8 million in fiscal year 2026-2027.

“The tax rate itself is determined by a relatively straightforward calculation based on data from the counties,” stated Rockwood Chief Finance and Operations Officer Cyndee Byous. “However, the district’s tax revenues depend on other factors as well. We continue to monitor the impact of the senior property tax freeze in both St. Louis County and Jefferson County, as well as the Jefferson County tax freeze that was approved in the 2025 special legislative session.”

Rockwood’s strategic plan, Forward Together, cultivates an environment of long-term financial sustainability by optimizing resource allocation, continuing transparency, diversifying and augmenting revenue sources and advocating for policies that support the district’s financial health and educational priorities. 

Find out more about the tax rate adjustment, how the tax rate is determined and the history of tax rates.