Farmington district holds public hearing on proposed 2025–26 budget; projects slight deficit, 20% fund balance forecast

The Farmington Public School District Board of Education held a public hearing Tuesday on the district’s proposed 2025–26 budget and reviewed the proposed tax levy for the coming fiscal year.

District staff presented an overview of the district’s nine funds and said the proposed general fund budget shows total revenue of about $176,900,000 and proposed expenditures of about $180,800,000, producing a projected deficit of roughly $4.6 million while maintaining a projected general fund balance of about 20.3 percent at the close of 2025–26.

“Total revenue of a hundred and 76,000,000…expenditures at a hundred and 80 million, 8 hundred and 56 thousand dollars,” the presenter read during the budget overview. Staff noted the district’s primary revenue source remains the state foundation allowance and that the district is projecting a $200 per‑pupil increase for the coming year; presenters also described continuing uncertainty over final foundation allowance levels, state categorical funding changes and fall enrollment counts.

Staff walked through the composition of projected revenues: approximately 57 percent from state aid, 27 percent from property taxes and 16 percent from other sources. On expenditures the district said salaries account for about 50 percent of costs and employee benefits about 33 percent, leaving the district’s personnel costs at roughly 83 percent of the budget—consistent with peer districts.

Presenters described several categorical fund reductions that will affect revenue, including the expiration of one‑time COVID-era federal funds and reductions in state categorical allocations; district staff said Medicaid (fee‑for‑service) is the federal funding line “at risk” but that IDEA, Title I and Head Start appeared protected. Staff said they would continue to monitor state budget actions and noted they did not expect final state figures before July 1.

Tax levy information provided at the hearing showed proposed millage rates separated by property class (homestead, non‑homestead, commercial personal property and industrial personal property). The district said the proposed homestead operating, debt and state education tax mills total 14.3039 mills for residential taxpayers; trustees were given a breakdown of non‑homestead and commercial rates as well.

There was no public comment during the budget hearing portion of the meeting. The board’s finance and facilities committee had previewed the proposed amendment and budget at its May 27 meeting; committee members and administrators noted the board will consider the budget and any necessary amendments as state decisions and updated enrollment figures arrive.

The district said a budget document and a three‑year forecast are available on the district website under transparency reporting and that the administration will return with updated figures in the fall to reflect final state action and enrollment.