DC Everest board adopts $113.18 million budget and approves stadium video/audio project funded by sponsorships

The DC Everest Area School District Board of Education on Oct. 22 adopted a $113,184,712.47 budget for the 2024–25 fiscal year and authorized several property-tax levies to support operations, energy debt service, referendum debt service and community-benefit programs. The board also voted to move forward with a sponsorship-funded video and audio upgrade for Steam Stadium.

The budget resolution, which the board presented following statutorily required notice and a public hearing, authorizes collection of $12,967,946 in general property taxes, $2,035,750 for Fund 38 energy-efficiency debt service, an additional $10,476,894 to cover referendum debt-service obligations, $450,000 for community-benefit programming, and $4,954 for prior-year property tax chargebacks. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with trustees Shannon, Yi, Katie, Larry and the presiding officer recorded as voting yes.

Why it matters: the adopted levy sets tax collections that will fund operating costs, capital debt-service tied to a community-approved referendum, and a modest pool of community programs; adoption is the principal budget action the board must take to implement the district’s spending plan.

The board also approved a district-led capital project for Steam Stadium: a new video board, upgraded speaker system and additional scoreboard elements. Facilities director Mike Matthews described the project as designed to improve audio coverage for fans who sit on the stadium hill and to provide video capability for graduations and community events. "This proposal adds a video and new audio to Steam Stadium," Matthews said during the presentation, explaining placement and use cases.

Funding and risks: Matthews proposed a sponsorship model to pay construction costs. The plan includes four "dedicated" partners at $20,000 per year (5-year agreements) and ten "connected" partners at approximately $5,000 per year, plus additional evergreen partners and smaller local advertisers. Matthews estimated initial contracts could total about $650,000. Administration (Kelly Thompson) said the $650,000 figure is conservative, recommended bundling the stadium and a previously approved gym video project for vendor and IT efficiencies, and noted the district would need to pay costs upfront while sponsorship receipts might lag. "The ask is this would be completely made by sponsorship," Kelly said, while also noting the district could use short-term financing or fund balance if commitments fall short.

Procurement timeline and tracking: presenters said they would finalize sponsorship commitments through January, issue bids in November, finalize purchase in March and target installation for the first home football game on Aug. 29. Finance staff said project receipts and donor commitments would be housed and tracked in Fund 21.

Board action and vote: trustees moved and seconded the motion to accept the Steam Stadium video proposal and approved it on a voice vote. No detailed roll-call tally was recorded for that voice vote in the minutes; the board directed administration to proceed with the procurement and fundraising strategy described.

Other actions: the board handled consent-agenda business (including separate approval for two pulled items, where one trustee—Katie—abstained on that separate vote), moved a slate of policies forward on first reading, selected Trustee Yi as the WASB State Education Convention delegate, and adjourned into closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(c) to discuss personnel matters.

What’s next: administration will pursue the sponsorship commitments and issue bids as planned; the board will monitor fundraising progress and Fund 21 tracking, and future meetings will include implementation updates and any procurement awards.