Rice Lake board adopts $58.4 million 2025–26 budget and approves $21.8 million tax levy

The Rice Lake Area School District Board of Education voted to adopt the 2025–26 budget and approve the district’s tax levy at its regular meeting. Board members made and seconded the motions and approved both measures by voice vote.

The adopted spending plan totals $58,428,368 across district funds: General Fund 10 $34,788,299; Special Education Fund 27 $5,817,038; Non‑referendum Debt Service Fund 38 $471,827; Referendum Debt Service Fund 39 $1,457,350 (transcript format: "1,457,000, dollars 350"); Capital Projects Fund 49 $900,000; Food Service Fund 50 $1,326,921; and Community Service Fund 80 $13,666,933. "And the budget has been adopted," the board chair announced after the vote.

On the tax side, the board approved a levy resolution that spreads $21,806,899 across the municipalities that comprise the Rice Lake Area School District for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. The presenter said the certified levy represents roughly a 9.07% change and that the district is facing reduced state aid this year, which increased reliance on local property tax revenue. The presenter also noted an overall district equalized valuation change averaging about 11.75% and cited a mill rate decrease from $7.86 to $7.67 per $1,000.

Board materials and the motion tied the levy totals to named municipalities in Barron and Washburn counties and referenced legal reporting requirements. No roll‑call tallies with individual votes were read aloud; the motions were approved by voice vote.

The budget and levy votes followed a public notice and required hearings; board members said documentation will be filed as required by state statute. The district indicated staff will continue work on next steps for implementation and routine reporting.

What’s next: the levy will be placed on the tax rolls for the listed municipalities and the district will proceed with implementing the adopted budgets for the 2025–26 fiscal year.