Board hears referendum timeline from Baird as district readies 2024–25 budget

District administrators presented a multi‑month timeline for budget planning and a potential operational referendum, laying out near‑term steps for staff compensation discussions and longer‑term deadlines for resolution and state paperwork.

Speaker 5 reviewed the schedule constructed with Baird: April—review staffing and start insurance renewals; May—Baird presentation on district needs and three‑to‑five year cost estimates; June–August—information gathering and community education; August—if pursuing a referendum, set and approve a resolution; August 27—final paperwork due to the state; November 5—potential ballot date. "If you take a look at the referendum timeline, this is from a Baird spreadsheet," Speaker 5 said, explaining the public‑education and bond‑counsel steps built into the schedule.

Administrators emphasized the need for data collection and community engagement between June and September and noted that some budget numbers will not be final until October when the district sets its tax levy. The presentation included staffing projections and enrollment trends that inform the staffing decisions made later in the meeting. The board will host Kim Zabel from Baird at the May 8 meeting for a detailed modeling presentation.

The timeline places a legal paperwork deadline of August 27 for a potential operational referendum resolution to be filed with state authorities. Board members discussed outreach and follow‑up steps; staff were directed to coordinate community information sessions if the board chooses to pursue a referendum.

Provenance: Budget/referral timeline and Baird presentation noted in meeting transcript.