[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480966,"mediaKeyId","5561576-0b89f8b556a88b959c0a654dd7ec92b3","parentId",5561576,"title","Hiawatha board reviews FY26 budget options, considers higher capital levy and schedules extra meetings before Sept. 8 hearing","audioSeconds",1564,"startMs",1415000,"endMs",2979000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561576-0b89f8b556a88b959c0a654dd7ec92b3&start=1415&end=2979","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561576-0b89f8b556a88b959c0a654dd7ec92b3/thumbnail_1415000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480966/Hiawatha/School-Boards/Kansas/Hiawatha-board-reviews-FY26-budget-options-considers-higher-capital-levy-and-schedules-extra-meetings-before-Sept-8-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480966-ad97c392f5245964165727da0f2ae382/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392975&Signature=I3EUWvEvYvwi3eL9J7vX4wKwB7dywhWTgEhSoy8ooqIkYlkZy6ysXWSzphYxxcfbTaZTnsQG1RNA5GMtlDVrcRrxhbOtxG32721YA1gb8W9PIX1fHBlXBHFGnJGvrOnkHYNBLB0OotkOt4CBLmYkbHsptQqoDLUyuvShIFXRdWlsznl8ySWgKUZDw307KHXdkkiN1gkCkdrVpUOtcvFuyscE8Vs0gEy6bwp7kYX6q6faG-CB1SUG-atHtOL3Ax1MPAS5DJFKotxg-0M3-nw0U0cTPCUwtPdYXfnkos1Uvxn~-ec8NnVWshS3ci3~y93vd2Oq76u2rn~RJyj1Uxzgyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hiawatha USD","date","2025-08-11T22:47:34Z","article","The Hiawatha School Board on Monday discussed fiscal year 2026 budget proposals that would raise the district's total mill rate slightly above the county's revenue-neutral level to increase Capital Outlay funding and cover rising payroll and maintenance costs.

Superintendent: \"The budget is merely a projection,\" the superintendent told the board, adding the district typically budgets a small enrollment buffer and that the base state aid per pupil rose from 5,378 to 5,615 this year. He recommended keeping the supplemental general (LOB) at 31 percent of the general fund while restoring Capital Outlay toward prior levels.

Board members heard two Capital Outlay options: returning the Capital Outlay levy to 6 mills, which the superintendent estimated would bring roughly $102,000 to the fund, or a midpoint of 5.625 mills, which would bring roughly $45,319. The superintendent said the recommended package would raise the district's proposed total mill rate to about 49.716; he said the revenue-neutral mill rate for the district is about 49.107, making the recommended proposal roughly 0.6 mills above revenue-neutral and the alternative about 0.24 mills above.

Why it matters: The board emphasized the tradeoff between preserving school services, staff pay and facility needs and the effect of higher property tax bills for residents. The superintendent used a homeowner example to illustrate taxpayer impact, noting an owner of a $260,000 house would see a roughly $40 increase from the previous year under the proposed package.

Details and context: The superintendent walked trustees through the three primary budget drivers he used: base state aid per pupil, assessed valuation and enrollment. He said the district budget projection assumes 835 full-time-equivalent students for FY26 and noted assessed valuation fell by about $2,000,000 from the prior year. He explained Kansas law requires a uniform 20-mill levy and that state formulas and equalization factors determine how base state aid translates into local revenue.

On the supplemental general fund (LOB), the superintendent recommended keeping the district at 31 percent of the general fund (the state average is about 32.3 percent), but warned the district used a small contingency this year to blunt immediate increases and that the approach may not be sustainable long term.

Board discussion: Board member Kevin Baldwin asked for confirmation of the recommended mill numbers: \"So this is the correct number. We're going to 6. Correct?\" The superintendent and other trustees discussed how the two Capital Outlay options would affect immediate repair needs such as HVAC, parking-lot work and concrete repairs. Trustees repeatedly noted rising costs for payroll, utilities and facilities maintenance and expressed concern about multi-year tax impacts on residents.

Meeting scheduling and public comment: Board members discussed a scheduling conflict with the city's meeting on Sept. 8 and asked whether the district could provide an additional opportunity for patrons to review and comment on the published budget. The board set a special meeting for Monday at 8:00 a.m. to consider permission to publish the proposed budget in advance of the required public notice, and agreed to hold the formal budget hearing on Sept. 8 at 5:00 p.m. The board also discussed holding an additional special meeting or an earlier session on Sept. 8 so patrons who would otherwise attend the city meeting could speak to the school budget; the board asked staff to coordinate logistics and availability.

Next steps: The board did not adopt a final budget at the meeting. The superintendent reminded trustees that publishing the proposed budget starts the public notification period; the formal adoption and any final mill rate decisions will follow the September public hearing and any additional special meetings the board schedules.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hiawatha USD 415 Regular BOE Meeting 8/11/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Hiawatha School Board on Monday discussed fiscal year 2026 budget proposals that would raise the district's total mill rate slightly above the county's revenue-neutral level to increase Capital Outlay funding and cover rising payroll and maintenance costs.","taxTitle","Hiawatha, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",49320,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480962,"Hiawatha board approves FSA bank account, 2025-26 master agreement and staff wages",142,4822000,4964000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561576-0b89f8b556a88b959c0a654dd7ec92b3&start=4822&end=4964","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561576-0b89f8b556a88b959c0a654dd7ec92b3/thumbnail_4822000.jpg","/articles/6480962/Hiawatha/School-Boards/Kansas/Hiawatha-board-approves-FSA-bank-account-2025-26-master-agreement-and-staff-wages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480962-1c8c13e80c59e8332691f2d8e02035dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392975&Signature=PuDqzWckCJc9WByWgrR9O9cHSe1Uy0mtoDlSCRzDOy5CFOEXXC5RCLp0s~Dmz7sJb-Heh1gV4TQYPc3tus9IsMaCua75msjJzcSVA6dtB7GZShxaSUrQE2J9tiG~VuIlbnR76VIAdZRZziNhRv58FzpJvNlOxbo0~zGVA049SEBTTrRA9mkmpVo0he46PIFq7xH9dvYwztY3wxsnBb0x8~J7iQZlwlHOTznhXjUT~Zfiw9SLk5CdhyGgPFrYzEp6HqjfcCDm7w31aR70gx34mJ6lpdnihzkXoVcZMHZ8yvANntjKDa5blhhIZ84bxlbSBdNi1S6XzcLNXbXvPeq2jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hiawatha School Board unanimously approved several administrative and financial housekeeping items, including creating a separate bank account for flexible spending account (FSA) funds, a new master agreement for the 2025-26 school year and administrative and classified wage schedules.

Accounting change approved: The board approved opening a new GN Bank account to hold FSA premiums and reimbursements separately from other district funds. Levi, board staff, said, \"They're asking that we have a separate bank account at GN Bank for the FSA funds, flexible spending, just to keep that clean and not mingle that with other district money, which makes sense.\" The motion to open the account specified Chelsea Carlson and the clerk (Levi) as the two authorized signers and also updated signers on the middle school activity and petty cash accounts to add Doreen Olsen. The motion passed 6-0.

Contracts and wages: Trustees also approved the 2025-26 master agreement as presented; the motion passed on a 6-0 voice vote. Later in the meeting members moved and seconded approval of administrative and classified staff wages as presented; the board recorded that motion as passed.

Why it matters: Separating FSA funds into a distinct bank account is a bookkeeping and compliance step district staff said is required by the FSA administrator. Approving the master agreement and wages finalizes the district's negotiated employment terms for the upcoming school year and authorizes payroll and budget commitments.

Votes at a glance:
- Open GN Bank FSA account and update signers (Chelsea Carlson and Levi as signers; add Doreen Olsen to middle school signers): approved, voice vote, tally recorded as 6-0.
- Approve 2025-26 master agreement: approved, voice vote, 6-0.
- Approve administrative and classified staff wages as presented: approved, voice vote (tally not recorded by name; board reported motion passed).

Next steps: Business office staff will provide the bank with required board minutes and documentation to open the new account and update authorized signers. The district will implement the approved wage schedules and file the master agreement per its normal personnel procedures.","Trustees voted unanimously to open a separate GN Bank account for employee flexible spending account (FSA) funds, approved the 2025-26 master agreement and approved administrative and classified staff wage schedules.","actionData","errors"]

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Hiawatha board reviews FY26 budget options, considers higher capital levy and schedules extra meetings before Sept. 8 hearing

Hiawatha board approves FSA bank account, 2025-26 master agreement and staff wages