Stevens Point Area public hearing outlines 2024–25 budget; levy rises 0.9%

Stevens Point Area Public School District officials presented the proposed 2024–25 budget at a public hearing that showed a total levy of $43,030,626 — an increase of $383,000, or about 0.9% — and projected a narrow general-fund surplus of roughly $104,000.

The presentation, led by Dr. Owens, explained how the district arrived at the levy and highlighted factors likely to shape the fiscal year, including growth in equalized value, referendum allocations and private-school vouchers. The book of budget materials provided to the board contains line-by-line detail; officials emphasized the budget remains tight and subject to factors such as winter costs and fuel prices.

Dr. Owens said the district’s equalized value is about $6.7 billion, an increase of 5.71% from the previous year, and that the district’s levy rate will be $6.40 per $1,000 of equalized value — roughly 30¢ lower than the prior year’s $6.70. “It’s only 0.9%, so that’s encouraging, that’s great,” Dr. Owens said when describing the levy increase.

The presentation walked through the revenue-limit worksheet the district uses for state calculations. The district’s three-year rolling average for revenue-limit enrollment is 7,104 students, an eight-student decline from the earlier rolling period; staff said that decline creates a one-time declining enrollment exemption of a little over $90,000 if the students are not returned next year. Dr. Owens explained the mechanics that led to a revenue-limit calculation near $80.5 million and how recurring and nonrecurring exemptions — including the first year of referendum dollars — increase that baseline before state aids are subtracted.

Referendum proceeds and planned allocations were summarized: the district received about $8.7 million in referendum dollars and accounted for approximately $2.3 million from the per-pupil add-on ($325 × 7,104 rolling-average pupils) in its short-term balancing. Dr. Owens outlined approximate referendum uses shown in the budget book, including $2.5 million toward wages, $2.7 million for benefits, $500,000 for building work (PJ Jacobs roof), and $100,000 for health and safety items.

The board packet also broke out private-school voucher costs, which Dr. Owens said now total a little over $3.3 million and represent about 7.8% of the district’s levy. He noted that the voucher amount is included in the district’s levy total and is levied by the district but not for district schools.

Members asked about the community service fund (Fund 80). A board member asked about the increase in community service fees; Dr. Owens and another board member said the district is partnering with the Boys & Girls Club to expand before- and after-school programming and will pay a portion of costs so students are not turned away. One board member said, “That opportunity is open to every child in the district regardless of the school they’re attending,” referring to the community-service-funded program.

No members of the public had signed up to speak during the public-comment portion of the hearing. The board did not take a formal vote to adopt the budget at the hearing; the session was a presentation and information-sharing opportunity. The meeting concluded with a procedural motion to adjourn that carried by voice vote.

Attendance at the hearing included board members LePak, Bortzen, Robbie, Shader, Summers and Bushman; Ms. Uhler, Mr. Kowalski and Mr. Pope were listed as excused. Staff presenters included Dr. Owens and Mr. Jones. The budget book and specific pages cited during the presentation were referenced as the primary source of detailed line items and calculations.