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Board approves preliminary 2025–26 budget; district reports restored fund balance and warns of future referendum needs
Summary
Trustees approved the preliminary 2025–26 budget, which the district says balances for the year, restores fund balance after prior deficits and includes compensation increases and restored positions; staff warned that long-term funding uncertainty means another referendum may be necessary in coming years.
The Eau Claire Area School District board approved the district’s preliminary 2025–26 budget after a presentation from Chief Financial Officer/Director of Business Services (Dr.) Hellworthy (presenter name in transcript) that described progress restoring fund balance and steps to stabilize operations.
Dr. Hellworthy told trustees the district ended the prior fiscal year with an $8.43 million positive fund-balance difference and that, after prior deficits, the current deficit stands at $1.42 million. The district produced a balanced preliminary budget for 2025–26 that restores previously held unfilled positions, funds compensation increases across staff groups and includes market adjustments for hourly school employees. Hellworthy said the district also began using a new finance system on Oct. 1 and is running parallel checks ahead of the first payroll under the new system.
The presentation noted capital and operating details: capital-referendum projects are about 90% complete, the district collected interest on referendum funds, and the district completed specific equipment replacements (for example, a south freezer and a Memorial High School dishwasher). Hellworthy said the board’s levy will rise by about $0.16 per $1,000 of assessed value, citing allowable transfers of service to support special-education and English-learner programming.
Trustees discussed timing and long-term strategy. Commissioner Zurer asked the board to consider the timing of any future referendum — spring versus fall — and urged staff to include voter turnout considerations in planning. Hellworthy said the district is tracking remaining uncertainties, including potential federal reductions to Title I funding and the state aid certification schedule, and that the district may need a future operational referendum to sustain program levels beyond the referendum period.
A motion to approve the preliminary budget was made by Commissioner Nordine and seconded by Commissioner DeMent. The budget was approved by roll call; the transcript records “Yes” votes from Commissioners Azure, Beaker, Case, DeMent, Farrar and Nordine at the roll call. The board scheduled a special meeting on Oct. 27 to adopt the final budget.
Board members praised staff for restoring financial stability while noting the work ahead on long-term funding and community communication.
