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School Town of Highland board adopts 2026 budget, opens preliminary bond hearing
Summary
The School Town of Highland Board unanimously adopted the 2026 budget, capital projects plan and the statutorily required bus replacement plan and opened a preliminary public hearing on a proposed bond issue to cover projects and gaps created by recent revenue losses.
The School Town of Highland Board of School Trustees voted unanimously Oct. 28 to adopt the 2026 general fund budget, tax rates and levies, and to approve the district's 2026'2028 capital projects plan and the 2026'2030 bus replacement plan, while holding a preliminary public hearing on a proposed bond issue.
Superintendent (referred to in the meeting as the superintendent) told the board the bond hearing responds to funding shortfalls after reduced estate receipts and other revenue pressures. "We can't buy a bus this year," the superintendent said, describing how the administration is considering one or two buses, additional parking-lot work, rooftop HVAC units and device purchases to cover classroom technology needs. He told the meeting the bond is structured to "stay the same" tax rate by extending payback rather than raising rates immediately.
Treasurer (identified in the meeting as the treasurer) told trustees that required public notices and a public hearing had been completed and recommended adoption of the budget and levies. The board approved the 2026 budget and related measures by voice vote, 5-0. The board also approved an engagement letter with Taft law firm and another counsel engagement, each by unanimous vote.
The board adopted a resolution authorizing the treasurer to transfer up to $3,500,000 from the education fund to the operations fund on a quarterly, as-needed basis to cover specific 2026 general fund expenditures. Administration emphasized the transfers are an annual statutory mechanism and will be made only as required.
Board members emphasized the need to balance statutory compliance and fiscal reality. Trustees reiterated that, under current assumptions and recent state policy changes discussed at the meeting (including references to Senate Bill 1), the district will defer some bus replacements even as it adopts the required replacement plan.
The board announced a second public hearing on the bond for the Nov. 18 meeting and closed the preliminary hearing for the evening.
