Wilson SD board approves proposed $154.8 million 2025–26 budget, sets millage at 31.8 mills

The Wilson School District Board of School Directors on May 5 approved a proposed final 2025–26 general fund budget of $154,800,000 and set the real estate millage at 31.8 mills, the district said.

The budget, presented by district leaders during the meeting, shows total revenues of $145.9 million and total expenditures (including a $3 million budgetary reserve) of $154.8 million; the administration said it will use $5.9 million of fund balance to balance the plan. The board approved the package in a roll-call vote, 6–0.

District Superintendent Dr. Trickett said the budget is designed to align with the district’s strategic goals and to support students and staff. “These kids… represent all of that,” Dr. Trickett said during the presentation, explaining the budget choices are intended to support student needs and programming.

Why it matters: the budget funds personnel, programs and planned construction-phase costs while keeping the district within board fund-balance policy. It also raises the local tax rate slightly: the administration said the millage increase represents a 3.79% change year over year.

Key elements and context

- Tax rate and revenue: The proposed millage is 31.8 mills. The district projects $145.9 million in total revenues, with 55% coming from current real estate tax and 28% from state sources, the presentation said.

- Fund balance use and reserve: The plan draws $5.9 million from fund balance, including $400,000 from an equipment committed fund balance and $5.5 million from a PSERS-committed fund balance piece cited in the presentation. The budgetary reserve is set at $3,000,000 (about 2% of the operating budget), the administration said, to cover vacancy payroll variance and potential tax-appeal refunds.

- Personnel and compensation: The budget includes $116.9 million for salaries and benefits, a 3.49% salary increase provided for in the Wilson Education Association contract, and 21 additional teaching-and-learning full-time-equivalent positions to address enrollment growth and student needs. Presenters noted a 2% vacancy discount built into salary projections.

- Benefits and pensions: District presenters said the pension contribution rate used in the budget is 34% (PSERS) and that the district’s health-insurance consortium premium assumption increased about 9.9% for 2025–26.

- Debt and capital planning: Annual debt service is budgeted at approximately $11.4 million. The budget includes a $1.9 million phase-in payment for the district’s phase-2 facilities work and retains plans to seek bids for two construction projects (Lincoln Park Elementary School and additions/renovations at Southern Middle School) to be brought forward for later board action.

- Enrollment and program drivers: Presenters said the district serves about 6,500 students and reported enrollment growth of roughly 266 students over five years (about 4.3%) and 47 students year-over-year; the administration projected about 280 additional students over the next five years. The special-education population is about 21% of students; economically disadvantaged students increased from about 32% (1,990 students) in 2019 to roughly 43% (2,770 students) as of the prior Oct. 1 count, the presentation said. District staff said those trends drive staffing and program recommendations.

Board action and vote

The motion to approve the proposed final 2025–26 general fund budget and related items (resolution on the agenda) was made by board member McCray; the roll-call vote recorded six yes votes, zero no votes. The approved action places the proposed final budget on the district’s public PDE-format posting for 30 days; the administration said it will return for final adoption on June 9 after any adjustments.

Next steps

The board will post the PDE budget format for public inspection and may adjust figures before final adoption at the board’s June 9 meeting. The administration also said it expects a busy summer preparing bid packages and reviewing construction bids if the board authorizes those procurement steps in subsequent votes.

Ending: The board and administration said the plan attempts to balance continued service investments and fiscal safeguards as the district manages enrollment growth, program needs and planned facility work.