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Carlynton SD presents balanced 2025–26 budget, keeps millage rate unchanged
Summary
Carlynton School District administrators presented a balanced $37.54 million 2025–26 operating budget that holds the millage rate steady, highlights personnel and safety investments, and flags uncertainty from pending state and federal funding changes.
Carlynton School District administrators on June 3 presented a final operating budget for 2025–26 that they said balances projected revenues and expenditures while keeping the district's millage rate unchanged.
Superintendent (speaker 4) said the proposed budget aligns with the district's strategic priorities and emphasizes student safety, instructional materials, expanded STEAM programming and additional personnel support. Business manager Mr. Bilby told the board total revenues and expenditures are each projected at $37,543,461 and that staff do not anticipate using fund balance this year.
Mr. Bilby said the budget assumes a 3% increase in state funding for planning purposes and recorded a $201,418 favorable variance in revenue driven in part by stronger-than-expected state receipts and interest income. He said local tax revenue accounts for roughly $24.28 million (about 65% of revenues), state revenue about $11.95 million (≈32%) and federal sources about $1.31 million (≈3%).
The business manager described expenditures as concentrated on direct instruction and support services (about 95% of spending) and said personnel makes up roughly 68% of total expenditures (about $25.5 million). He noted particular cost pressures for tuition payments to charter and out-of-district special-education placements: a regular charter-student slot was described at roughly $19,085, while per-student charges for some special-education placements and cyber providers were higher.
Mr. Bilby said transportation represents about 5.4% of the budget (roughly $2 million) and stressed that transporting students who attend parochial or charter schools within a 10-mile radius is a continuing cost driver. He also described a capital-reserve transfer of $305,550 and said the district holds roughly $1.0 million in capital funds as it plans a bond tied to the Carnegie Elementary renovation project.
The administration emphasized uncertainty tied to state and federal budget timing: Mr. Bilby said the district models conservatively because statewide appropriations may not be finalized by June 30 and federal policy changes can affect downstream state allocations. The board did not take a vote on the full operating budget in the portions of the meeting covered in the transcript, though several consent and personnel packages later on the agenda were approved by voice vote.
Looking ahead, administrators said they will post job descriptions and any documents required for public inspection when positions are formally approved and that more detailed budget documents will be available as items move toward final board action.
