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Saline Area Schools adopts 2025-26 budget, amends 2024-25 and sets tax rates
Summary
The Saline Area Schools Board of Education adopted the district's amended FY2024-25 budget, approved the FY2025-26 original budget and certified the 2025 L-4029 tax rates after a budget hearing led by Chief Financial Officer Miranda Owsley.
The Saline Area Schools Board of Education on June 10 adopted the district's amended General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2024-25, approved the FY2025-26 original budget and certified the 2025 L-4029 tax rates following a budget hearing led by Assistant Superintendent for Finance Miranda Owsley.
Owsley told the board the district's budget work groups organize funds into separate legal funds, highlighted the general fund's role in salaries and benefits and described bond-related capital project funds that cannot be used for payroll. "The general fund is that box ... it's just kind of all in there," she said, summarizing how instructional spending and personnel are reported. She presented the FY24-25 amended figures and a roll-forward illustration for FY25-26 and said state timing and accrual rules require the board to amend the current-year budget before June 30 and adopt the new budget before July 1.
The presentation included revenue and expenditure assumptions: roughly $77 million referenced for instructional activity, a projected net addition of about $1.3 million to general fund balance at June 30 under current assumptions, and a starting fund balance cited at about $17 million. Owsley explained that the district uses cash and modified accrual accounting and that state foundation funding and categorical grants affect per-pupil funding year to year.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about slide projections and presentation typos that were corrected live. The board moved to adopt the General Appropriations Act and the 2025 L-4029 tax rates. Trustee Tim Austin moved the motion; it was seconded and approved unanimously (5-0).
The budget packet noted district plans for several personnel additions, many funded through special education and grant sources, and inclusion in the FY25-26 assumptions of a 4% offer previously negotiated with one bargaining group. Owsley also described the capital-project picture: a 2025 bond sale produced a large cash inflow in FY25 that will be spent over subsequent years on approved projects.
The board adoption completes the statutory budget calendar: amendment for the prior fiscal year and adoption of the new fiscal year budget and tax certification before July 1.
Looking ahead, trustees said the finance committee will reconvene in August to review line-item details and continuing assumptions. Owsley and trustees emphasized the budgets will continue to be amended during the year as actual state revenue and enrollments materialize.
The board vote to adopt the budgets and tax rates was recorded as unanimous: motion moved by Tim Austin, seconded (recorded in the minutes as support), outcome approved (5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain).
