Rice Lake Area School District finance committee warns of $1.25M drop in state aid for 2025-26

During the Rice Lake Area School District board meeting, a finance committee update said estimated state aid for the 2025-26 school year will be $1,252,000 lower than in 2024-25. The committee reported the figure while reviewing enrollment and revenue projections and local facility partnerships.

The finance committee speaker said the group met Sept. 4 with all members present and discussed collaboration with the youth baseball association on field repairs used by junior varsity teams, and reviewed plans for a new Boys & Girls Club facility. "The estimated state aid for the district for the 2025-26 year is down $1,252,000 from 2024-25," the finance update stated.

Why it matters: a six-figure reduction in state aid could affect classroom budgets, staffing and capital projects. The committee noted enrollment and revenue-limit calculations were reviewed in detail but did not provide a line-by-line budget change at the meeting.

Board materials from the finance update said members approved the committee minutes and scheduled the next finance committee meeting for Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8:00 a.m. No specific staffing or program cuts were proposed at the meeting; the finance speaker encouraged administrators to continue monitoring revenue and to report back with recommendations.

The board approved the meeting minutes and the consent agenda earlier in the session, which included board bills and employment items. The finance committee's update was informational and did not include a formal board motion on budget reductions.