Hudsonville board adopts amended FY24 budget, approves 2025–26 budget and tax rates; ratifies transportation agreement

The Hudsonville Public School District Board of Education voted to adopt amendments to the current (FY24) budget, approved the district’s original budget for 2025–26 and set the property tax rates for 2025, and ratified a transportation collective-bargaining agreement.

During a presentation of required Truth in Taxation materials, a district finance presenter said the district “has exceeded our original revenue projection for local revenue by $500,000,” and attributed the increase to higher-than-expected interest and dividend receipts. The presenter also told the board the revised FY24 budget shows a number of expenditure variances that require disclosure and future audit discussion.

The largest single expenditure variance discussed was a $605,000 increase under supporting services. The presenter attributed roughly $400,000 of that amount to returning staff from the Ottawa Community Schools Network to the district payroll and said other changes reflect converting contract positions into district employees. The board was also told federal revenue in the budget falls about 20% relative to the prior projection because a large 11t grant paid for a sizable summer program last year (described in the presentation as “almost half a million dollars”) and because an HRA program was discontinued (presenter cited about $600,000).

On staffing and compensation, presenters said certified staff received a 4% salary increase in the proposed budget, and the district anticipates a net reduction of seven general education full-time equivalent positions as the district rightsizes sections. Finance staff described the district’s original FY24 budget as having been conservatively prepared with a projected $2.8 million deficit; the revised projection presented to the board showed a much smaller shortfall (presenter cited a revised projection of about $288,000) and indicated the district could close to a positive balance of roughly $500,000 depending on final state aid actions.

Board members asked about comparisons with nearby districts and reasons for the improved fund balance; presenters said conservative budgeting plus revenue timing and one-time items contributed to better-than-expected results. The presentation repeatedly noted uncertainty about state aid until the legislature and governor finalize proposals.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the agenda with two additions (transportation collective bargaining and a potential post-closed-session action item): passed. - Motion to approve the consent agenda and minutes: passed. - Motion to adopt FY24 budget revisions (2023–24 budget amendments as presented): passed. - Motion to adopt the 2025–26 original general fund budget as presented: passed. - Motion to set the 2025 tax rates (including levying full 18 mills on non-homestead for the general fund and debt service and sinking fund millages as presented): passed. - Motion to ratify the transportation collective bargaining agreement (added to agenda): passed.

Board members thanked business office and central office staff for the work compiling the budget materials. Several board members also expressed appreciation for conservative budgeting practices and for staff work on recruitment and compensation aimed at retaining transportation staff.

The board did not provide vote tallies by name in the public minutes for these motions; each motion was called and recorded as passing in the meeting record.

Clarifying details in the presentation included: an approximately $500,000 favorable variance in local revenue (attributed to interest), a $605,000 supporting-services variance with $400,000 tied to payroll changes for the Ottawa Community Schools Network staff, a cited 20% decline in federal revenue tied to a prior 11t grant and summer-school spending (about $500,000), a cited $600,000 reduction tied to an HRA program ending, a 4% teacher salary increase, and a reduction of seven general-education FTEs described as rightsizing.

What’s next: the board’s approved 2025–26 budget and tax rates will be published per Truth in Taxation procedures and budget documents will be subject to audit and further refinement when final state aid numbers are known.