School Board adopts FY2025 budget

posted on 1/24/2024

The School Board unanimously approved the School Department’s fiscal year 2025 budget at its Jan. 16 special meeting. The budget will now be incorporated into the city-wide budget that will be introduced to the City Council next month.

The School Department’s general fund operating expenses total $85,142,799, an increase of $3,776,857, or 4.6%, over the current fiscal year. This amount includes $6,222,124 in debt service payments. The amount to be raised by local property tax would be $57,388,299, an increase of $5,628,999, or 10.9%, over the current fiscal year. As adopted, the budget is $2,328,339 above the education side of the estimated tax cap calculation.

The new budget does not add any new positions. Superintendent William Harbron and Business Michael Administrator Limanni have explained during the budget process that the request for additional money above the tax cap is to maintain current services due to the significant loss in state education funding, including a reduction of $2,254,464 in state adequacy education aid and a $183,412 reduction in the statewide education tax. There is also a significant increase in the estimated legally required special education costs. The FY2025 budget’s estimated special education cost increase is $2,569,369, which includes $1,123,000 in legally required special education transportation costs.

The Jan. 16 meeting and all previous budget meetings and workshops, along with associated documents are posted on the FY2025 Budget Revealed webpage.