Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Forecast topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Holmen staff outline conservative budget assumptions for 2025–26 forecasting
Summary
Finance staff presented the district’s preliminary budget input variables — including property valuation growth assumptions (4.5% tapering to 4%), revenue-limit increases of $325 per pupil, special-education reimbursement at 33.3%, and two levy scenarios tied to the April referendum — as material for board input and forecasting.
Julie Homan, executive director of finance and operations, presented the district’s preliminary budget input variables to guide the 2025–26 five‑year forecast. The presentation was a staff report only; no action was taken.
Homan said staff will model conservative equalized property valuation growth of 4.5% for the next two years, then 4% thereafter, noting the district’s long-term average is around 5%. For state revenue, staff used the statute-level increase of $325 per pupil in the revenue-limit formula for forecasting (added to current maximum revenue per member), producing a projected per-member revenue cap of about $11,889 in the coming year under that approach.
Homan presented two levy scenarios for the general fund (Fund 10): without a positive April referendum result, the district’s model estimates an April 1 levy of about $11.3 million; with a successful referendum the modeled levy would be about $15.1 million. She said the Fund 39 debt-service schedule in the materials does not yet include the new 2025 bond sale; staff will add the new debt schedule to future levy modeling.
Other forecast variables Homan recommended: hold per-pupil categorical aid flat (the presentation cited the current flat amount used in forecasting), assume a 33.3% special-education reimbursement rate (with the caveat that proration may reduce actual reimbursement), use the published CPI-U (2.95%) as a bargaining benchmark, a 3% health-insurance increase for modeling, a 5% dental premium increase, and set Wisconsin Retirement System employer contribution at the recently updated 6.95%.
Homan also reviewed enrollment history and projections. The district’s 3rd Friday, September 2024 headcount was 3,791; cohort-survival projections show a gradual enrollment decline concentrated in lower elementary grades, which will reduce three‑year average membership used in the state revenue limit. Staff will model with and without the proposed operational referendum revenue to show impacts on programming and levy decisions.
Homan asked for board input on assumptions; board members did not request changes during the presentation.
