Board approves 2025–26 fees and preliminary budget and votes to pursue 10‑year capital projects levy

The Alexandria Public School District board approved a slate of fees for 2025–26, adopted a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and voted to proceed with a resolution to call a special election on a proposed 10‑year capital projects levy.

Fees and prices: Trevor Peterson, presenting the fees and prices item, proposed no change to most activity and event-admission fees but recommended modest increases to school meal prices for the small number of paid guest or extra meals. Proposed food-service price changes included raising elementary lunch from $3.10 to $3.25 and high-school lunch from $3.90 to $4.00; Peterson said these increases protect the district if the state free-meal program ends and keep charges reasonable if families pay for extra meals. The board approved the fees and prices as presented; a motion to approve was seconded and carried.

Preliminary budget: Peterson presented the district’s 2025–26 preliminary budget as required in June each year, noting the document is preliminary because several employee contracts (including the teacher contract) remained unsettled and legislative actions could change aid levels. He said the draft shows a modest projected draw on fund balance but that revenue and expenditure changes remain fluid; projected general fund ending balance under the assumptions shown would be roughly 7.6% of annual expenditures, below the board’s policy range of 11–16% while the district continues contingency and cost-containment work. The board voted to adopt the preliminary 2025–26 budget.

Capital projects levy resolution: The board also approved a resolution to seek voter authorization to levy annually for capital projects for up to 10 years. The district’s proposal targets approximately $3,000,000 in additional annual revenue in the first levy year (which was explained to be calculated as 3.683% of the district’s net tax capacity in the first year), to fund three broad categories: safety and security systems; infrastructure and building modifications (parking lots, HVAC, playgrounds, career-tech spaces and other facility work); and technology infrastructure and educational tools. If voters approve, the first levy would be certified in 2025 and provide revenue beginning in fiscal year 2026–27; the board set a special election date of Nov. 4, 2025, and said state review and comment will follow the resolution filing. Presenters estimated the first-year tax impact on the typical $350,000 home in the district at about $10 per month and noted the district’s rising net tax capacity has tended to reduce modeled homeowner impact in successive runs of the estimate. The motion to adopt the resolution carried.

Board discussion: Board members framed the levy decision as part of maintaining facilities and continuity of programs amid uncertain state funding and noted previous local cost reductions. Several board members emphasized the district’s effort to limit impacts on instruction while maintaining buildings and safety. The board and administration said they will pursue a state-required review and comment and run additional modeling ahead of a public information campaign.

Votes at a glance: The meeting transcript records the following formal actions and outcomes during the session: (1) approval of the agenda (motion carried); (2) approval of the consent agenda, which included minutes, payment of bills, personnel recommendations, grant applications and donations (motion carried); (3) approval of the 2024–25 operational plan (motion carried); (4) approval of the 2025–26 fees and prices (motion carried); (5) adoption of the preliminary 2025–26 budget (motion carried); and (6) adoption of a resolution to call a special election for a 10‑year capital projects levy (motion carried). The transcript does not contain roll-call tallies for these votes; votes were recorded by voice as “aye” and the chair declared motions carried.