DCG board hears budget update and readies advocacy as SSA talks continue

District leadership told the Dallas Center-Grimes school board on Feb. 24 that ongoing state budget negotiations over Supplemental State Aid (SSA) are likely to leave many districts, including DCG, in a budget-guarantee status and urged local advocacy.

Dr. Blum (superintendent) summarized the policy landscape: "House was at 2.25, Senate was 1.75 and Governor's at 2. It looks like we'll probably settle around 2," he said, adding that even a midrange SSA will not keep pace with inflation and operational cost increases. Michelle (district finance staff) told the board that district revenue and expenditures are roughly 52-53% through the year and that certified enrollment is down by 41.6 resident students.

Michelle provided concrete district impacts under two scenarios: if SSA were 1.75% the district's budget-guarantee payment would be about $130,932; if SSA is 2.0% the hold-harmless aid would be about $62,838. She explained that participating in the state's budget-guarantee program requires a board resolution; the board approved that resolution by voice vote.

Superintendent and staff also previewed a new advocacy webpage and a property-tax breakdown document that will show residents precisely where tax dollars flow "down to the penny," and encouraged families to contact legislators. School leaders said the district sold approximately $14.7 million in bonds in December 2025 and is preparing another bond sale in which it expects to offer $44-$45 million and retain roughly $28 million in capacity for later sales.

The board approved multiple routine items tied to finances and operations (E-rate bids, paging/intercom bids, Grant Wood Infinite Campus support, and others) and set a public hearing on the fiscal-year-27 certified budget for March 30, 2026.

Next steps: district staff will post the advocacy materials online and continue planning the bond and budget timelines; the board will hold a budget work session on March 2, 2026.