Winona school board adopts revised 2025 budget and several 2026 debt-service budgets

The Winona Area Public School District board on March 20 adopted a revised 2025 budget and approved several 2026 debt-service and levy budgets, including fund-specific schedules for OPEB and other district debt.

Board members approved the revised 2025 budget in a roll-call vote after a brief review of changes compared with preliminary figures. The board then heard briefing material on Fund 47 (OPEB debt service) and Fund 7 (other debt service) for 2026; Fund 47’s revenue projection tied to certified levy amounts and state revenue was described as nearly fixed by the debt schedule. Fund 7 was presented with the associated principal and interest figures and an expected ending fund balance for 2026.

Why it matters: the district’s debt-service funds support bond and retirement-related obligations that affect levy calculations, tax certification and future operating flexibility.

Board discussion and votes - Revised 2025 budget: The administration said the budget’s balance change was small (about one-third of a percent, roughly $13,500 versus preliminary numbers). After a motion and second, the board approved the 2025 revised budget by roll call. - Fund 47 (OPEB) 2026 budget (briefing): staff described Fund 47 as dedicated exclusively to debt service related to bonds issued in 2009 to establish an OPEB trust. The 2026 revenue budget (levy + state revenue) was presented; the expenditure budget was shown as principal, interest and fees with a small projected fund-balance growth. This item was presented as information and slated to return as an action item at a later meeting. - Fund 7 (other district debt) 2026 budget (briefing): staff presented the debt-service schedule, projected principal ($2,600,000) and interest ($829,000) amounts, related fees and a projected ending fund balance of about $724,000 for 2026. This was informational and will return for action. - Capital, LTFM and technology levy budgets: the board approved three levy-related budget items (the capital/LTFM and technology levy budgets) in one motion; the board conducted a roll-call vote and approved the package. - Supplies and materials budget allocation for 2026: the board approved the supplies/materials allocation by roll call.

Administration notes: presenters emphasized that funds 7 and 47 are tightly constrained by levy certification and debt schedules, leaving little discretionary flexibility. Staff also noted that employee-benefits accounting (fund 45) is separate from Fund 47’s debt-only accounting and will be briefed separately.

What’s next: the OPEB Fund 47 document will return as an action item at a future meeting. Fund 7 and the other levy-related budgets will proceed through the budget-development timeline the board follows each year.

Sources: Board briefing and roll-call votes on March 20, 2025; administration budget presentations.