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Bethany board adopts 2025–26 budget; trustees hear fiscal outlook and approve purchases and personnel actions
Summary
The Bethany Public Schools board adopted its 2025–26 budget after a presentation showing lower projected new revenue and a $4.3 million carryover from FY25. Trustees also approved routine purchase orders, encumbrances and personnel items during the meeting.
The Bethany Public Schools Board of Education adopted the district's 2025—26 budget on a roll-call vote after a finance presentation that projected $20.94 million in revenue including a $4.3 million fund balance carryover and $19.83 million in final expenditures for FY24—25.
The budget matter was the meeting's principal action item. The district's finance presenter told trustees that the prior year's reported $24.16 million in revenue reflects a one-time $6 million carryover, not recurring new funds. "You're not getting new funds of $24,000,000 every year," the presenter said, urging the board to consider a conservative revenue estimate for the coming year.
Board members were told projected FY26 revenue including fund balance is $20,937,000, which the presenter said corresponds to roughly $16.6 million in new recurring revenue after subtracting the $4.3 million carryover. The presenter highlighted two points: (1) some categories in the state's estimate-of-needs are intentionally conservative (90'5' estimates for certain categories), and (2) last year's totals included one-time receipts such as COVID-era ESSER funds and a roof insurance payout that will not recur.
The presentation outlined how the district plans to manage the difference between projected revenue and requested expenditures: monitor collections through the fiscal year, keep a projected carryover in the building fund (about $565,000 projected), and, if necessary, transfer the near-$500,000 insurance premium to the building fund to balance the general fund. The presenter also said the district expects to be in a "season of saving" for building projects after completing a two-year track project and replacing a roof.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about specific function codes, including child nutrition and vehicle purchases (function codes 3000 and 2700 in the presenter's numbering), and were told the child nutrition budget was bumped to provide margin for staffing and supply volatility and the bus replacement line was reduced because fewer purchases are expected this year.
Votes at a glance (recorded actions during the meeting): - Consent agenda (minutes, contracts and out-of-town student travel approvals): approved by roll call. - General fund and building fund encumbrances and payroll encumbrances (detailed PO numbers presented): approved by roll call. - Adoption of the 2025—26 budget: approved by roll call. - Motion not to convene into executive session on certain personnel items: approved by roll call (no session held at that time). - Approval of adding an equine club at the high school: approved by roll call. - Approval to accept 10th'12th grade math and science credits earned at Canadian Valley Technology Center: approved by roll call. - Approval of personnel employment (addendum A) and resignations (addendum B): approved by roll call.
Minutes and accompanying materials presented to the board showed several purchase orders and encumbrances discussed before votes. The presenter flagged larger items including a flight simulator (paid partly from aviation funds with a separate warranty PO), a blanket propane PO for district vehicles, a mobile SchoolSafe kiosk funded by federal Title IV funds, and building fund expenditures tied to the track project and custodial contract. The presenter noted the track project costs were essentially spent or committed this fiscal year and that the building fund carryover would be monitored before any additional projects are scheduled.
Superintendent Marshano closed the formal portion of his report by reiterating the district's overall posture: while revenues are lower than the unusual prior year totals, "we are not in a bad place financially," and the administration intends to balance conservative budgeting with room for unplanned capital needs.
The board entered an executive session later in the evening to interview candidates for an open board seat; the meeting minutes state the board entered executive session at 7:01 p.m., exited at 7:48 p.m., discussed only the listed item and took no votes during that session.
