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School board delays vote on 2025-26 budget, schedules June 10 work session
Summary
After a presentation on revenues, inflationary pressures and staffing costs, the Excelsior Springs School District board voted to table approval of the 2025-26 budget and hold a budget work session on June 10 at 5:30 p.m.
The Excelsior Springs School District board on Thursday postponed a final vote on the district's proposed 2025-26 budget and agreed to hold a public work session at 5:30 p.m. on June 10 to review the plan in greater detail.
Superintendent Dr. Tomlinson presented the proposed budget and told the board the district has limited control over revenues but is contending with rising costs. "The state just passed their budget this week, hasn't been signed by the governor yet," Tomlinson said during the presentation, noting the district had already built the legislature's current funding assumptions into the proposal.
Tomlinson said inflation has driven up costs across contracted services such as food service and transportation, and that utilities and other non-personnel expenditures have increased about 15 to 18 percent. The budget includes a modest step increase for employees and a $200,000 district contribution to buy down staff health insurance costs. He said the district did not change the salary schedule and that a separate levy conversation will be necessary to address long-term pay competitiveness.
Board members moved to postpone the budget vote to allow more time for study and public education about the district's finances. The motion as recorded in the meeting minutes asked that the board "table approval for the 2025-26 budget and that the board hold a work session on the budget prior to considering approval of the next board meeting currently scheduled for June." The motion carried on a roll call recorded in the minutes as 5-0 in favor; the board set the work session for June 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Why it matters: The budget sets staffing, program, and facility choices for the coming school year and frames whether the district will pursue additional local revenue measures. Tomlinson warned the board that without additional funding the district could face future staffing cuts as neighboring districts compete for educators.
Next steps: The board will meet in a budget work session on June 10 to review assumptions, line items and outstanding questions before taking a final vote.
Votes at a glance: The board passed a motion to table final approval of the 2025-26 budget and schedule a budget work session for June 10, 5:30 p.m.; vote recorded 5-0.
