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Board advances 2025–26 budget assumptions; district forecasts 2.74% general education aid increase, plans 6.9 FTE reduction
Summary
The Monticello school board advanced the district’s 2025–26 budget assumptions, which include a 2.74% increase in general education aid, a planned reduction of 6.9 FTEs based on enrollment projections, and a projected health insurance cap of 13%. The motion to continue the budget process passed 4–0.
The Monticello Public School District on Monday advanced its budget assumptions for the 2025–26 school year as part of the district’s multi-step budget process.
Director of business services Tina Burkholder reviewed staffing, revenue and expenditure assumptions the district will use for budget planning. Burkholder said the district learned in late February that general education aid will increase by 2.74% for next year and that the governor has recommended a one-year hold-harmless for compensatory funding, though that remained uncertain. The district’s forecast assumes a $300,000 decrease in revised compensatory funds, from about $2,000,000 to $1,700,000, unless the state acts otherwise.
On staffing, Burkholder said the district plans to reduce 6.9 full‑time equivalent positions based on projected enrollment changes while reviewing special education staffing needs such as speech and educational support positions. She also said the district typically sees about three retirements that generate some savings and that salary and benefit projections are based on board parameters while contracts for next year remain unsettled. The forecast assumes a 13% cap on health insurance costs for next year.
On non-salary expenditures, the district projected possible increases of 0–10% for supplies, utilities and transportation and said it will not need short-term borrowing under current assumptions. Burkholder warned that a future state budget maneuver could shift aid timing (for example paying only 65% of aid during the year and 35% later), which would create cash-flow pressure and potential short-term borrowing costs equivalent to roughly one FTE.
Board members voted to continue the budget process using the presented assumptions. The motion to advance the budget timeline was moved by Casey Root, seconded by Jeff Hegley, and passed 4–0.
Burkholder said the district is conservative in budgeting and expects total expenses to finish about 0.5% under budget in the coming year with projected fund balance within the district policy range of 8–16%. The district will continue to finalize staffing assignments, building supply allocations and enrollment-based projections in the coming weeks.
