A decline in assessed valuation will bring a slightly higher property tax rate for the Richmond R-XVI School District in 202627.

The Board of Education recently approved an overall tax rate of $4.5126 per $100 of assessed valuation, up from $4.4643 in 202526. The new rate includes an operating levy of $3.7126 and a capital projects levy of $0.8000.

The district’s combined real estate and personal property assessed valuation decreased from $163,861,499 in 2025-26 to $159,820,753 in 2026-27. While real estate valuation increased from $116,095,242 to $120,085,799, personal propertyvaluation fell from $47,766,257 to $39,734,954.

New construction and improvements also increased, rising from $1,884,426 last year to $3,587,480 this year.

Superintendent Dr. Bryan Copple attributed the overall decline in assessed valuation in part to decreases in railroad utilities.

“New construction did go up, so that’s a good thing,” said Copple. “But basically, with the railroad utilities decreasing this past yea…