Middleton trustees approve amended FY2025 budget, adopt proposed FY2026 spending plan

Middleton School District trustees approved an amended fiscal year 2025 budget and adopted a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget following a public budget hearing at the district office.

The hearing opened with Alicia Krantz, district finance staff, presenting the amended FY2025 numbers and the proposed FY2026 plan. Krantz told trustees the district’s revised FY2025 general fund revenue totaled about $39.114 million and that total expenditures are projected to balance at $39.114 million, leaving a projected carryover (contingency) of roughly $1.65 million. For FY2026 the district projects total revenues near $39.999 million with salaries and benefits budgeted at about $32.677 million.

Why it matters: the budgets set staffing, program and operating levels for the coming school year and determine the district’s contingency reserves and transfer activity.

Most important details - FY2025 amended: Krantz reported the district’s salary-based apportionment rose from an original budget of $21,505,334 to $21,674,665 and state discretionary funds from an anticipated $8,877,077 to about $8,898,888, producing total general-fund revenue of roughly $39,114,918. She said amended FY2025 expenditures for salaries and benefits are approximately $31,615,083; purchased services $4,354,781; supplies and materials $1,086,088; capital outlay $67,600; insurance $240,858; transfers to other funds about $96,000; and a contingency reserve of about $1,654,517. - FY2026 proposed: Krantz said the district planned to carry the contingency as a beginning balance, expects roughly $2.36 million in local revenue (levy, fees and penalties), a salary-based apportionment projection of about $23.123 million and state discretionary funds of about $9.234 million for total state revenue of about $35.984 million; total projected FY2026 revenue equals about $39,999,130. She proposed $32.677 million for salaries and benefits, $4.398 million for purchased services and $1.02 million for supplies/materials. - Contingency and reserves: trustees asked how long the contingency would cover operations; a board member asked for a reminder and was told the reserve “will get us one month” (as discussed during the hearing). - Insurance and benefits: Krantz said the district is seeking a new carrier for property and professional liability after last year’s significant increase; she said health and dental plans remain in place though premiums increased (Krantz reported a 7.2% increase in health premiums and a 9% increase for dental). - Meal prices: Krantz described modest meal-price increases below the 5% public-hearing threshold: elementary breakfast from $2.25 to $2.35 (4.44%); elementary lunch from $3.25 to $3.35 (3.08%); middle school lunch from $3.40 to $3.50 (2.94%); high school lunch from $3.50 to $3.60 (2.86%); and adult meals from $5.00 to $5.10 (2%).

Board action and process - Trustee Cindy moved to approve the FY2025 amended budget; the motion carried by voice vote. Trustees then separately approved the proposed FY2026 budget in a second motion. - The board closed the budget hearing after votes and moved on to other agenda items.

Context and next steps The presentation also summarized other funds (federal, state and grants) and noted a planned reduction in “other funds” from the pandemic-era highs; Krantz told trustees that COVID-related supplemental funds had been spent and are no longer available. Krantz and trustees encouraged members of the public to contact the district office with follow‑up questions and said details (including the contingency level and line‑item breakdowns) can be provided on request.

Speakers quoted or referenced in the hearing were present and identified for the public record; the board conducted separate votes for the amended FY2025 and proposed FY2026 budgets and recorded approval by voice vote.