Winslow Township board approves tentative $147.7 million budget; $14.5 million pulled from capital reserve for middle school HVAC

The Winslow Township Board of Education voted to approve and forward a tentative $147,700,000 school district budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year to the county office, board members said at the March 12 meeting.

The approved tentative budget includes a $14,500,000 withdrawal from the district's capital reserve designated for a middle school heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) project. A presenter said that earlier work had covered some units and that the current withdrawal is for units original to the building that still need replacement. The presenter also said the tentative budget shows a fund balance amount of $6,700,000, which is a decrease from the prior year by roughly $2,100,000.

Budget presenters listed expected revenue and expenditure items: a reported special-education Medicaid-related revenue line described in the discussion as “SAMMI” (a state-calculated federal reimbursement estimate) that showed an increase; line items for tuition revenue and miscellaneous revenue; and projected instructional, student support, administration, operations and maintenance, transportation, benefits, and capital outlay costs. The presenter said estimated total revenues and expenditures “agree” for a $147.7 million total budget figure.

Board members pressed presenters on several items. A board member asked whether federal grants were budgeted at 75% of current-year awards; a presenter confirmed the district budgeted 75% of current-year federal grants across the board (a 25% reduction from full-year funding). The board also discussed the district’s obligation to remain under the state tax levy cap; presenters said the tentative budget was prepared to keep the district within the 2% cap tied to the district’s November election cycle.

Several members asked about the HVAC projects: presenters said the district has engaged architects and that schools 5 and 6 and the high school were in various stages of budgeting, design and contractor solicitation. The presenters said past bids came back higher than earlier budgets, that some federal funds were later added to expand the projects, and that the district plans to proceed with design and construction for multiple schools as funding allows.

The board approved the tentative budget by roll call. The motion was seconded and carried; members voting yes included (per the roll call) Miss Floyd, Miss Martin, Miss Peterson, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Shaw; Mr. Clark and one roll-call entry identified in the record as “Mister miss Magnus?” registered no votes. The motion was recorded as carried and the tentative budget will be submitted to the county for review and to begin the required public presentation process.

Votes at a glance - Tentative 2025–26 school district budget: motion to approve and forward to the county — outcome: approved (roll call recorded in meeting transcript).