Board adopts 2025–26 operating budget and certifies levy after updated DPI figures

The Hudson School District Board adopted the 2025–26 operating budget and certified the tax levy following updated state aid certification.

Bonnie presented updated figures and explained that the district’s July 1 estimate and the later DPI certification differed from the annual-meeting estimate. The district had estimated $18.4 million at the annual meeting, the July 1 estimate had been $16.5 million, and the certified amount arrived at roughly $17.9 million—about $400,000 below the board’s prior annual estimate. Bonnie also explained that equalization aid declined approximately 7.62% from the previous allocation and that district valuation and enrollment trends affect state aid calculations.

After the presentation, board member Megan moved to approve the 2025–26 operating budget. The motion, read aloud in full, stated the levy amounts for general fund, debt service and community service and requested certification to local taxing authorities. Maria seconded the motion. Board members voted by roll call; the recorded votes were Dahl (Aye), Garza (Aye), Gerlach (Aye), Powers (Aye), Rozowski (Aye), Rudy (Aye) and Baumann (Aye). The chair announced the motion passed.

Bonnie said the increase in total levy was driven in part by planned fund-balance designations, primarily a $15 million designation for a construction project in fund 10, which accounted for the majority of an overall 20.71% increase in expenditures shown on the draft budget document. She noted general fund revenues were estimated to rise about 5.29 percent while expenditures rose primarily due to that one-time fund-balance allocation. The administration agreed to add a footnote to the published budget documents clarifying that the personal-services line includes the $15 million construction-related designation.

No formal amendments to the budget were made during the meeting.