Emmett trustees approve revised 2024‑25 budget; $10 million HB521 grant earmarked for HVAC project
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Summary
Trustees approved a revised 2024‑25 budget that reflects one‑time state funding from House Bill 521; the board discussed using the $10 million for a middle‑school HVAC replacement estimated at about $6 million and set project timelines.
The Emmett Independent District board on Wednesday approved a revised 2024‑25 budget that incorporates one‑time state funding and to consider capital work in 2025‑26.
Why it matters: District staff said the revised numbers reflect significant one‑time state appropriations—cited in the meeting as House Bill 521 (HB521)—that increase the district’s fund balance and create capacity to address long‑deferred maintenance such as the middle‑school HVAC replacement.
Key actions and numbers - Trustees approved the revised 2024‑25 budget as presented and later approved the proposed 2025‑26 budget. Board discussion credited HB521 for $10,000,000 appearing under “other funds” in 2024‑25 reporting. - District staff said the HVAC replacement at the middle school has a preliminary estimate of about $6,000,000 and that planning and bidding would continue; a proposed completion date presented to the board was January 2026. - Staff described the mechanics: HB521 funds arrived in 2024‑25 and will not automatically repeat in 2025‑26; the finance office estimated transferring $8 million–$10 million into the next fiscal year as projects are executed. Staff also described other funding changes tied to House Bill 292 (HB292), which replaced the prior supplemental levy mechanism.
District presentation and oversight Crystal (finance director) reviewed line‑by‑line comparisons between 2023‑24 actuals, the revised 2024‑25 budget and the proposed 2025‑26 budget. She told trustees that $10,000,005.19 appeared in “other funds,” and that capital outlay projections for the HVAC and other projects explained most of the year‑to‑year difference in fund balances and expenditures.
Board comment and next steps Trustees approved the budgets after discussion of timing and cash flow. The board asked staff to confirm payment schedules and to continue refining bids; district staff said major HVAC vendor components are expected to ship in October and that payments will be made as projects are completed. The board also discussed tracking interest earned on the state funds while work is delayed.
What’s next: Staff will return with formal bids, a procurement schedule and an implementation plan for the HVAC and associated capital projects. Trustees noted the need to preserve the funds and outlined a tentative plan to bid the high‑school parking lot replacement with bids sought in November and completion targeted for spring/summer 2026.