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Eldred CSD presents 2025–26 budget with $100,000 capital project, urges turnout for May 20 vote
Summary
District business official presented a proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget of roughly $20.0–20.35 million, explained a $100,000 capital allocation (water filtration and security doors), a $230,000 cafeteria fund repayment, and said declining state aid and rising property values prompted use of the tax cap; voters will decide May 20.
The Eldred Central School District on Thursday presented its proposed 2025–26 budget, outlining a plan that the district says preserves programs while using the tax cap and funding a small capital project.
Business official Caleb Russell told the board the proposed spending plan is about $20,000,340, a 2.69% increase from last year, and listed a property-tax revenue line of $13,702,912. Russell said the proposal includes a $100,000 capital allowance intended primarily to replace the high school's water filtration system (estimated $50,000–$60,000), with security-door upgrades listed as a secondary priority if funds remain.
Why it matters: Russell said state aid is declining and is expected to continue falling for roughly three years, pushing the district to rely more heavily on the tax levy even as local property values have risen sharply. He said higher assessed values reduce state aid-sharing ratios, constraining revenue sources beyond property tax.
Other budget details included a planned transfer of $230,000 into the cafeteria fund to repay the general fund for past deficits, a targeted unappropriated fund balance of 3–4% (currently 4%), and an overall fund balance the district hopes to hold above 10% (the business official said the district is at about 12%). Russell also described expenditure trends: employee benefits increasing about 3.57%, transportation costs up about 1.93%, and savings from lower vo-tech bills and fuel bids.
Propositions and next steps: The district read the legal propositions to be placed on the ballot for the annual vote on May 20, 2025: Proposition 1 would authorize a budget with a stated levy amount of $20,348,487 to be raised by taxation; Proposition 2 would authorize an annual levy of $49,500 to be paid to the Sunshine Hall Free Library. Polls will be open 11 a.m.–8 p.m. at the junior–senior high school.
Numbers to note: Russell reported the revenue budget’s property-tax line at $13,702,912 and described the proposed budget at roughly $20.0 million; the formal proposition language read during the meeting listed a levy figure of $20,348,487. The district said assessment and equalization data as of May 1 were not available, so exact homeowner tax rates may change when final data and new-property assessments are posted.
The district emphasized reserve targets (to cover retirement sick/vacation buyouts and unexpected costs) and said any final budget will be decided by qualified voters on May 20.
