The Williston Public School District presented a preliminary budget outlook and mill‑levy calculations to the school board, describing recent state legislative changes to budget procedures, showing a small projected surplus for the coming year and proposing per‑student site budgets to make allocations more transparent.

The presenter explained that a recent legislative change removed the formal requirement for public budget hearings; instead the district must post budget information online and adopt a budget between Sept. 7 and Oct. 7. The district also faces a 3% cap on potential mill levy increases but can "bank" unused levy capacity from prior years.

On projected revenue and expenditures the presenter reported roughly $88.7 million in projected revenues and about $87.7–87.8 million in expenditures, producing a preliminary surplus of just under $1 million and a projected fund‑balance increase of about $932,000. The district’s projected per‑pupil expenditure was reported at $12,088, below comparable districts in the presenter’s slides. The presentation listed the district’s taxable value at about $270,000,000 and discussed how one mill equates to that taxable value in levy calculations.

The finance presentation also described site‑level budgets calculated as a per‑student allocation: the presenter reported $85 per elementary student, $125 per middle‑school student and (as presented) $2.50 per high‑school student; the presenter said these figures were calculated from recent years’ actual expenditures and would be adjusted based on official fall counts. The presenter said custodial costs would be handled as a separate per‑student allocation (about $40 per student) because public use of buildings creates higher custodial needs.

Other clarifying figures provided during the discussion: federal reimbursements and grants that were claimed late caused some fiscal timing effects (the presenter said roughly $2–2.5 million in federal reimbursement arrived in July and could shift fund‑balance timing), and tuition payments for students placed at outside facilities rose from roughly $350,000–$375,000 in 2023–24 to about $600,000–$650,000 in the most recent year; the presenter said the district is investigating adjustment options and potential state reimbursements.

Board members asked about drivers of the district’s relatively low per‑pupil spending (enrollment and revenue mix, including oil revenue), site budget uses (classroom supplies, field trips, curriculum supplements) and whether principals were consulted in the per‑student calculation (the presenter said principals were briefed in the spring and receptive). The presenter said the district will tighten federal grant claims processes to avoid timing issues going forward.

The board was also briefed on payroll projections, negotiated pay increases and how unfilled positions have been covered by long‑term substitutes and extra‑duty pay. The presenter invited board members to follow up for spreadsheets and more detail.