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Milton School District adopts 2025–26 budget with $21.75 million tax levy
Summary
The Milton Board of Education approved the 2025–26 budget and a total tax levy of $21,747,325 by voice vote after a presentation from district finance staff outlining flat state aid, a slight decline in the district's membership average, and one-time capital accounting entries affecting comparisons to prior-year totals.
The Milton Board of Education on Oct. 27 approved the district's 2025–26 budget and a total tax levy of $21,747,325 after a presentation by district finance staff. The levy breakdown adopted by motion was $16,069,467 for the general fund, $5,221,100 for debt service and $456,758 for the community service fund. The motion to adopt the budget was made by Tracy and seconded by Joe and passed by voice vote.
District staff explained the budget in the context of a flattening enrollment trend and changes in state funding. Ross told the board that the district's three-year membership average is down roughly 24 students and that the 2025 state budget included a $325 per-pupil increase. He also cited a categorical increase in special education funding as the largest single state revenue gain this cycle.
Finance staff cautioned that a $2.3 million capital purchase of staff and student devices recorded at year end significantly increased the prior year's reported expenditures; excluding that entry, the district projects a modest increase in general fund expenditures (about 1.2–1.3 percent). The district's Fund 10 year-end balance for 2024–25 was reported between about 23.5 and 24.5 percent of expenditures.
Ross noted ongoing impacts from nonrecurring and recurring referendum authority: $2.5 million in nonrecurring authority will end next year, and a recurring referendum authority of $5 million is expected to come online the following year. He also described an increase in private school voucher payments tied to changes in the per-student multiplier.
Board members asked questions and then voted; the presiding officer recorded the motion as carrying on a voice vote. The board's adoption sets the district's levy and completes the local step in the annual budget cycle discussed at the finance committee meeting earlier in the month.
Provenance: First discussion and presentation: "So good evening everybody. We did meet on Thursday to talk through the final steps for development of the 2526 budget." (00:25:21). Final motion and adoption: "I move to approve and adopt the budget as presented with a total tax levy of $21,747,325..." (00:34:41).
