Worthington board approves maximum 2025 levy, directs administration to study possible reductions as bargaining continues
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Summary
At its December meeting, the Worthington Public School District board approved the district's maximum levy for 2025 payable in 2026, voted to direct administration to review programs and staffing for possible reductions, and received an update that district and teacher negotiators remain about 1.1 percentage points apart on total compensation.
Worthington Public School District board members voted Thursday to approve the maximum 2025 levy payable in 2026 and to adopt a resolution directing administrators to review district finances, programs and staffing and return recommendations if reductions are needed.
The motion to adopt the levy and the resolution passed by voice and roll-call votes. Ryan, presenting the levy outcome during the truth-in-taxation follow-up, said the levy increase was 1.67. In the ensuing discussion administration reiterated that the resolution is an authorization to review options and does not enact layoffs or immediate program cuts.
Why it matters: district leaders said a revised budget will wait until teacher contract negotiations conclude because negotiated salary and benefit levels materially affect projected expenditures. Administration noted that, while some contribution increases (such as changes to state-funded retirement contributions) may be partially reimbursed, there is no guarantee of reimbursement and new payroll costs — including the Minnesota paid leave tax scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 — add to district liabilities.
On negotiations, administration reported the parties have met repeatedly since June and have largely agreed on many contract language items and insurance contribution levels; the remaining open issue is salary. "We're about a per 1.1% apart on total salary," an administration speaker said, characterizing the current gap between the district offer and the teachers' proposal. Administration provided package-level figures: the district team's total package proposal of about 8.25% versus the teachers' proposal near 9.33%.
Board members asked for follow-up on reductions approved or implemented last year and how negotiated salary changes will be reflected in the budget revision. Carmen, in the monthly financial overview, said operating fund revenues and expenditures are running roughly in line with last year (revenues about 33.85% of the year to date versus 33.96% last year; expenditures about 33.57% versus 35.65% last year) and confirmed the district will submit a revised budget after bargaining concludes.
The board did not adopt specific staffing changes at the meeting; it voted to authorize administration to evaluate options and return recommendations to the board for further action.
Next steps: the district's negotiating teams have additional meetings scheduled (administration reported the next meeting in early January) and the board will receive formal recommendations if the administration identifies reductions it recommends for board consideration.
