Board weighs a proposed 3% millage increase as officials outline budget, staffing and capital priorities

Finance staff reported strong interest earnings for the year-to-date and introduced a draft 2024–25 preliminary budget that includes a proposed 3% millage increase. The finance presenter said the 3% increase would raise approximately $283,000 in local revenue and estimated total revenues near $25.9 million under that proposal.

Board members discussed staffing proposals embedded in the draft budget, including a proposed fourth-grade teaching position and a gifted/MTSS position. Staff noted that adding the gifted/MTSS role as currently scoped could increase the projected deficit by about $210,000; board members and the superintendent said state basic education (BEF) and special education (SEF) funding uncertainty made final numbers provisional.

The group debated whether to place a final budget motion on the next regular meeting agenda or postpone action until a June 10 special meeting to gain clarity on staffing and state revenue. One board member said they would not support passing a budget until outstanding staffing and deliverable questions were answered. The board discussed rebalancing mills across the district's multiple counties and noted capital reserve balances (capital reserve ~$192,000; turf fund ~$182,000; and a Columbia MOU/Tech fund ~$383,000) while weighing options to borrow for large projects versus using reserves.

No final millage vote was recorded. Staff said they would provide additional details, job descriptions for proposed positions, raw data on state funding estimates, and options for scheduling a vote next week or delaying until June 10 for further information.