The Elmbrook School District board approved the district’s adjusted 2024–25 operating budget and certified the final tax levy after a presentation from finance staff.

Key figures: Finance staff reported Fund 10 revenues of $113,900,000—about $2 million higher than the preliminary budget—driven by a three‑year resident average that added 66 residents to the revenue limit count and changes in state aid, including roughly $1,000,000 in personal property aid and $2.4 million in additional state aid noted in the adjusted calculation. The total tax levy increased 1.8% (about $1.3 million) year over year, and the district’s mill rate rose by 2 cents to $6.52 per $1,000 of equalized valuation.

Major adjustments and drivers: The budget increase covers higher health insurance costs, increased staffing needs in special education (an added contribution of about $476,000), two newly awarded mental‑health grants (roughly $700,000 in expenditures), and facilities project timing shifts after weather delays. Fund transfers were included to support capital projects (approximately $3.4 million to Fund 46) and kitchen equipment upgrades were budgeted using Fund 50 balance for walk‑in coolers and other replacements.

Board discussion: Trustees asked whether timing differences—such as later hiring of school resource officers—would affect levy and fund balances this year. Administration said some expenditures will be staged and may return to fund balance if not expended immediately. Trustees also asked for clarification on mill‑rate drivers; staff pointed to lower than expected property valuation growth (1.54% actual vs a 4.98% projection) as a significant contributor to the higher mill rate.

Vote: A motion to approve the adjusted budget and final tax levy carried on voice vote.

What this means locally: The approved levy represents modest growth in total property tax levied by the district; officials emphasized that increased state aid has offset some local burden even as certain targeted program costs rose. Administration noted that the district continues to monitor enrollment, state funding and capital needs as it implements the adopted budget.

Documents: BoardDocs contains the adjusted budget presentation and supporting slides with historical mill‑rate charts and fund balance tables.