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Sidney City board approves appropriation resolution, submits five-year forecast and OKs personnel, contracts
Summary
The Sidney City School Board approved an annual appropriation resolution, voted to submit version 2 of its five-year financial forecast to the state, approved purchase-services contracts (including a middle-school mental health therapist) and personnel items pending certification, and adopted special education model policies for 2025–26.
At a Sidney City School Board meeting (date not specified in the transcript), members approved an annual appropriation resolution, voted to submit a five-year financial forecast to the state, authorized several contract and personnel items, and adopted special-education model policies.
Treasurer Mike Watkins summarized the district’s financial picture and presented three forecast scenarios. "Revenues exceeded expenditures for the month of July by $3,700,000, and our general fund balance, as of Aug. 31, was $14,000,000," Watkins said. He warned the board that if the current emergency levy were not renewed or replaced, the district could lose roughly $2,000,000 in revenue in future years. Watkins recommended transferring $7,200,000 back into the general fund in 2026 to shore up carryover balances.
The board discussed revenue sources and assumptions (Watkins said about 45% of revenue comes from local taxes, 37% from state funding and 18% from other sources), the school foundation formula’s impact on state aid, and enrollment assumptions. Watkins noted a drop in foundation funding tied to recent biennial-budget changes and said health-insurance costs rose about 7% this year.
After discussion, the board voted to submit forecast version 2 as the district’s required filing. Roll-call votes as recorded in the meeting transcript show named members voting in the affirmative and the motion carrying.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Approve minutes, financial reports and invoices as presented — recorded votes: Dickman (Yes), Wilson (Yes), Kimmel (Yes), Boswell (Yes). Motion carried. - Approve annual appropriation resolution — recorded votes: Wilson (Yes), Kimmel (Yes), Hickman (Yes), Boslet (Yes). Motion carried. - Approve and submit five-year financial forecast (version 2) — recorded votes: Kimmel (Yes), Dickman (Yes), Wilson (Yes), Boswell (Yes). Motion carried. - Approve purchase services consent agenda (including Journey for Life therapist, middle-school aide, Emerson security officer) — recorded votes as recorded: Wilson (Yes), Kimmel (Yes), Boslet (Yes). Motion carried. - Approve personnel items pending certification and adopt special-education model policies — recorded as approved by roll call; motion carried.
The board also heard a summarized report from the Upper Valley Career Center Board of Education (Aug. 25), which included a transfer of $292,980 from that board’s general fund to its adult-education fund. The Sidney City board set its next meeting for Oct. 20 and adjourned.
The meeting transcript does not specify a meeting date; filings referenced in discussion include the county auditor deadline of Oct. 1 for appropriations and a state forecast filing due Oct. 15.
