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Greendale board briefed on budget, plans to press state for higher special‑education reimbursement
Summary
Administrators told the board the approved 2024–25 budget uses the full $2.5 million operational referendum (a five‑year nonrecurring authority) and urged continued state advocacy to raise special‑education reimbursement above the current ~32.4%; staff said raising it to 50% would bring roughly $1,000,000+ annually.
District leadership presented the board with the first‑trimester scorecard and a budget update on Nov. 11, saying the 2024–25 budget approved in October relies on the full $2,500,000 operational referendum authority approved by voters in April 2024.
"That required utilization of the full $2,500,000 operational referendum authority that was approved in April 2024," district staff member Jonathan said, describing the referendum as a five‑year, nonrecurring funding source. He said the referendum proceeds were used to align the budget with board priorities and maintain programming while district leaders continue to press state legislators for structural funding changes.
Jonathan outlined two board public‑policy priorities to carry into the next biennial budget cycle: indexing per‑pupil revenue limits to inflation (and associated market adjustments) and raising the state reimbursement rate for special‑education and English‑learner services. He said the district’s analysis shows spendable per‑pupil revenues have lagged inflation and that moving the special‑education reimbursement toward 50% would bring in “over $1,000,000 per year” and reduce transfers from the operational fund into special‑education services (Fund 27).
Board members and staff discussed whether the district should push for a 60% reimbursement target at state budget hearings; one board member said the district should ask for more and questioned why the prior public‑policy priority had been listed as a 50% floor rather than a stronger ask. Jonathan said prior coordinated lobbying asked to raise the rate to 60% and recommended the board consider elevating its public‑policy ask if it is comfortable doing so.
The board also discussed next steps: a budget workshop to begin 2025–26 financial projections, forming a board finance committee to recruit community members and coordinate advocacy, and state budget hearings in spring. No formal amendment to the district’s public‑policy priorities was adopted at the meeting; the briefing was informational and the board will discuss policy direction in upcoming meetings.
