Mister Sirick, a district staff member, presented the Racine Unified School District’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 interim budget at a special Board of Education meeting on Sept. 26, saying the plan totals about $567,000,000 and will be finalized after state equalization aid is released Oct. 15.

The presentation reviewed FY2025 results and FY2026 assumptions: the district drew down about $24,000,000 of fund balance in FY25 and closed the year with a 19.3% fund balance; the district moved $14,000,000 from Fund 10 to Fund 46 for long‑term capital; and the interim budget assumed a $325 per pupil increase in the revenue limit, a board‑approved 2.95% base wage increase and a 12% health‑insurance assumption. The presentation also noted board‑approved contracts for transportation and food services with Aramark.

The presentation described several referendums and fund details: a proposed new operating referendum of $26,000,000 for FY26, the district’s 2020 referendum at $22,500,000 for this year, and the 2014 referendum at $8,500,000. Sirick reported Fund 10 inventory of about $6,300,000, an assigned $1,000,000 reserve for future health insurance, $49,400,000 of unassigned fund balance and roughly $8,000,000 in referendum fund balance. Fund 40 was presented as having roughly $165,000,000 available for capital projects this year, and Fund 73 was used for retiree health insurance (OPEB), with a $6,200,000 transfer from Fund 10 in FY25 to cover obligations.

Staff told the board the interim budget assumed a 57 FTE reduction that had already been included and projected an additional 105 FTE reduction for the coming year; the presentation tied that enrollment decline to a projected $1,200,000 declining‑enrollment exemption. Sirick also said the district saw increases in open‑enrollment and voucher FTE in FY25 and that recent state actions raised voucher tuition and open‑enrollment tuition (an $11.40 per pupil increase to open‑enrollment tuition and a $640 increase to voucher payments). He said the district currently estimates the open‑enrollment change will reduce operating revenue by about $2,400,000 in FY26.

Sirick reported the district received a higher special‑education reimbursement figure in the state budget — he stated 42% — but added that colleagues expect an actual reimbursement closer to 38–39% once applied. He also said the district’s Moody’s rating remained at Aa3 with a stable outlook, and that the district’s credit outlook risk would increase if fund balance dipped below 18% in coming years.

Staff noted several upcoming steps and assumptions: the final state equalization aid figure on Oct. 15, a tentative board meeting scheduled for Oct. 27 to adopt the final budget and tax levy, an expected 14.9% board‑approved increase to health insurance (exceeding the 12% used in the interim budget), and a 7.2% Wisconsin Retirement System rate increase in January that will cost the district roughly $250,000. Sirick also briefed the board on the district’s energy‑efficiency projects, and that this will be the last year the district can provide free meals to all students without a new funding source.

The board opened the public hearing portion of the meeting but no district residents had signed up to speak. Board Member Miss Flair moved to close the hearing; Board Member Mister O'Connell seconded. The motion passed 8–0 (Missus Allen, Mister Bellagio, Mister Coe, Miss Harris, Mister O'Connell, Miss Villar, Miss Walker Cleveland and Missus Barbian voted yes). The board adjourned after closing the hearing.

The presentation made clear the interim budget will be revised when state aid is finalized and that final adoption, including the tax levy, is expected at the Oct. 27 meeting.