Verona district previews 2027 budget and flags possible spring referendum

District finance staff briefed the board on the 2026–27 budget calendar and five‑year projections, saying the draft budget is roughly 85% complete and will be presented for public comment during August and September meetings.

Presenters noted state aid estimates remain uncertain pending the state biennial budget expected by July 2027. The district said it is building a conservative aid estimate (6.2% increase shown in the draft) and modeling a 5% levy with an illustrative example that could translate to about a 1% effect for existing property taxpayers depending on net new construction. Staff reiterated the district does not plan a fall referendum; if one is required by financial conditions, it would be considered in spring 2027.

The presentation also discussed debt‑service strategies intended to lower interest costs for taxpayers, including a potential large prepayment strategy and the district’s prior practice of leveraging levy authority to reduce long‑term interest. Board members asked for continued updates and signaled interest in seeing fall data linking summer‑school outcomes to the budget discussion.