Springfield SD approves proposed 2025-26 budget with 2.95% millage increase, $600,000 gap

The Springfield School District Board of School Directors voted 8-0 April 20 to approve the district's proposed final general fund budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which includes a 2.95% millage increase and a projected $600,000 shortfall the district plans to address with fund balance.

The budget matters to taxpayers and district operations because it sets the district's tax rate, staffing and program funding for the coming year and frames a final budget that will be adopted after further review at the board's May meeting.

The budget presentation was given by Miss Musloski (finance presenter), who told the board that "the 20 five-twenty 6 proposed final budget is in a $600,000 deficit." She said rising costs for goods and services and a decline in assessed real-estate values drove the gap and that the district is proposing a 2.95% tax increase to help close it. Musloski said the district will "use fund balance to balance the budget" if necessary and that staff will continue to review and reduce expenditures before the final budget presentation in May.

Key figures presented to the board include an expenditure projection of $93,785,524 and a proposed 2.95% millage increase that Musloski said would raise an estimated $1,890,000 in real estate tax revenue. Under the presentation examples, Musloski said a property assessed at $200,000 would see an annual tax increase of $127, a median home assessed at $280,055 would see a $185 increase and a $450,000 home would see a $286 increase at the proposed rate. The district projects a net local tax revenue after homestead exclusions and a projected collection rate.

The presentation also noted staffing and program changes: the district plans to add three certified classroom teachers, one instructional support position and five positions to support facilities and athletics; Musloski said a 3.9% increase in salary and benefits and a 3.6% increase for purchased services, supplies and property services were built into projections. Special-education costs have risen, Musloski said, with the subsidy covering roughly 16.5% of special-education expenditures and special-education expenses increasing by about $2,100,000 over five years; the 2025-26 budget reflects an additional $480,000 in special-education costs.

The presentation referenced several revenue sources: increased state basic education and special-education subsidy projections cited by the governor's proposed budget, investment income that remained higher than earlier forecasts, and a countywide reassessment that has increased the number of commercial tax appeals. Musloski also explained that PlanCon reimbursements have declined because debt tied to the SLC building has been paid off; as a result, future PlanCon receipts relate primarily to the high school project.

Board members and administrators responded after the presentation. President Lord said the finance committee and staff would "work really, really hard to, try to bring down that deficit." Doctor Barber (superintendent) and Mister Sula (finance committee member) praised Musloski and her team for their work and said the committee will continue fine‑tuning numbers before the final budget is presented in May. "I fully expect and hope that that deficit and millage, hopefully, we can do a little better," Sula said during committee remarks.

The board then voted 8-0 to approve the proposed final general fund budget as presented; Musloski said the final budget will be presented at the May board meeting. The board earlier voted to move the May regular meeting date to May 29; the budget presentation and final vote will follow the district's revised calendar.

Clarifying details: the district described the deficit as approximately $600,000; the proposed millage increase is 2.95%; the presentation cited an expenditure total of $93,785,524 and example tax impacts of $127/year on a $200,000 assessment. The district said the special-education subsidy currently covers about 16.5% of special-education expenditures. The presentation noted increased salary and benefit costs and ongoing commercial tax appeals affecting revenue forecasts.

This vote sends the proposed final budget to further refinement and a final presentation at the district's May meeting, where the board will consider any changes before adopting a final budget.