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Burlington Area School District adopts 2025–26 budget, certifies $27.35 million tax levy
Summary
The Burlington Area School District board adopted the 2025–26 operating budget and certified a $27,354,970.70 tax levy after a call vote. The budget reflects higher local revenues from an operating referendum and open enrollment, offset by decreased state aid and rising personnel and insurance costs.
The Burlington Area School District Board of Education voted to adopt the 2025–26 budget and certify a $27,354,970.70 tax levy at its Oct. 13 meeting.
Business services staff member Ruth presented the budget, saying the district’s general fund revenues are projected at $50,438,000, an increase of about $5,800,000 from the prior year driven primarily by the first year of an operating referendum (about $4,600,000) and higher open‑enrollment revenue (about $581,000). She said some state and federal aid lines declined, including a $921,000 decrease in state general aid and about $300,000 in other state and federal aid.
Ruth said total general fund expenditures are projected at $47,714,000. Key cost pressures include salary adjustments (the district provided a 4% adjustment this year, while certified staff did not receive a pay increase in 2024–25 following a failed operating referendum) and a projected 19% increase in medical insurance costs. The budget restores $250,000 to capital improvements, bringing that line back to $500,000, and reflects higher private‑school voucher payments funded within the revenue limit.
The district projects an ending general fund balance of $10,605,000 for 2025–26, about 22% of expenditures. Ruth said the district expects the first year of nonrecurring referendum revenue to help cover anticipated shortfalls in later years as part of a three‑year plan.
On special education, Ruth said the special education fund must balance annually and is projected at $10,233,000 (revenues and expenditures). State special education aid is expected to rise by about $600,000, allowing the district to reduce the transfer from the general fund by roughly $200,000. Other funds discussed included a $360,000 reduction in nonreferendum debt after a loan payoff and a roughly $5,000,000 reduction in referendum debt because the district chose operating referendum revenue instead of prepaying debt (debt defeasance).
Ruth presented the tax levy proposal of $27,354,970.70, a 5.3% increase over the prior year; she noted the district’s mill rate remained unchanged at $6.77.
A single motion was made to adopt the 2025–26 budget in both the Burlington Area School District (BASD) object‑level format and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) function‑level format (the two formats reflect the same numbers for different reporting purposes) and to certify the levy. In a call vote conducted by district staff, the following board members were recorded voting Aye: Kate; Roseanne; Paul; Taylor; Marlo; Peter. The motion passed.
The board also announced upcoming committee and board meeting dates for late October and November.
