Watertown City School District adopts $103M budget for 2025 school year

The Watertown City School District Board of Education has officially adopted a proposed budget of $103,909,155 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. This decision was made during the board meeting held at Case Middle School on April 16, 2025, and will be presented to voters for approval during the upcoming budget vote on May 20, 2025.

Key discussions during the meeting included the implications of the proposed budget on local educational services, particularly concerning the Cyclone Academy, which does not have a separate line item in the budget. Board members expressed concerns about the potential impact of changes to the foundation aid formula, which is influenced by the socioeconomic status of students and inflation rates. The inflationary rate is expected to decrease from 3.18% to 2.9%, which could affect the district's funding.

Additionally, the board clarified that the maximum tax levy increase that can be proposed to taxpayers is 2.44% for a simple majority vote. Any proposal exceeding this amount would require a supermajority approval.

In other actions, the board approved the nominations of Michael Kramer and Jennifer Jones to serve three-year terms on the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, and they also approved the School Property Tax Report Card for the proposed budget.

The decisions made during this meeting are crucial for the district's financial planning and educational offerings, as they set the stage for the upcoming budget vote and outline the district's priorities for the next fiscal year. Community members are encouraged to participate in the vote to shape the future of education in Watertown.