March 6, 2023 at 7:30 AM - Budget Committee Meeting

Description:  The purpose of this agenda item is to review the projected end of the year balance. The 22-23 Fund 10 budget approved by the School Board in October was balanced and included a $100,000 contingency. As of the end of February, the special education teacher approved for Heritage will come from the contingency fund. The budget also includes the additional $1M approved through the operational referendum question. The school board has not approved expenditures related to the $1M at this time. As a reminder, the transportation budget will be in a deficit due to the monthly invoices from 2021-22 that carried over to 2022-23 (approximately $350,000). In addition, the utility budget is trending at a negative $250,000 due to increases in both rates and usage.

The budget committee expressed an interest in reviewing natural gas purchases.  Dan Navin from Symmetry Energy will join us at the meeting to share information regarding natural gas purchasing options. 

Description:  The purpose of this agenda item is to discuss the draft of the 2023-2024 budget process. Attached please find the budget timeline. 

Description:  Attached please find the public school district state budget proposal from Governor Evers. Administration will review the key differences between this budget proposal and what has been included in the 2023-24 budget planning process. 

Description:  The purpose of this agenda item is to review a draft of the budget planning process.  Attached please find the budget planning process draft. 

As a reminder, administration is recommending a budget planning process utilizing the 5-year average for enrollment planning. The 5-year average is projecting an increase of 110 new students, which nets out to a +9 overall. Administration will share the estimates that are being used to plan for the 23-24 budget, the FTE projections for grades K-12, and the overall revenue/expenditure estimates. Based on feedback received from the school board, an additional first grade section at Prairie Elementary has been added. Administration is requesting a recommendation for the March school board meeting to approve the 2023-24 Budget Planning Process. 

Description:  The purpose of this agenda item is to review the 2023-24 employee benefit programs. The district insurance committee and human resources committee will be reviewing the 2023-24 employee benefit programs for a recommendation at the March board meeting. 

The health insurance benefit program includes an additional 3% district investment into the health insurance premium. This will be the first increase in health insurance premiums since the five-year agreement with Dean Health Plan. The health insurance benefit plan introduces a new plan option called a high deductible health plan. The district also is introducing a new wellness tier, which could have a financial impact up to $150,000. 

The 23-24 budget planning process includes a 3% increase in the district health insurance premium. Please feel free to review the 2023-24 employee benefit plans as outlined in the human resources committee agenda. 

Description:  The purpose of this agenda item is to review the district's funding strategy for districtwide maintenance. The school board has reserved $300,000 per year in Fund 10 for future maintenance projects. All maintenance projects could then be funded through the Fund 49 November 2022 referendum funding, likely through the 2026-27 school year. The 2027-28 school year would then begin the use of the Fund 10 reserved maintenance dollars, which will have accumulated to $1.8 million. Administration will seek input from the Facility Committee and the Budget Committee on this funding strategy. 

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