Platteville School District presents 2025–26 budget; total levy unchanged at $9,583,899

Dimitri Andrews, the Platteville School District business administrator, presented the district's proposed budget for the 2025–26 school year at the budget hearing, saying the total tax levy would remain at $9,583,899.

Andrews told attendees the district began budget planning in December 2024 and that the newly enacted 2025–27 state budget, signed by Gov. Tony Evers on July 3, 2025, allowed the district to make more accurate funding projections for the next two years. He cautioned, however, that estimating state aid beyond the current biennium is increasingly difficult.

"The largest portion of our budget is allocated to staff wages and benefits," Andrews said, and he noted last spring the school board approved a 1% salary increase plus eligible advancement for staff. Andrews reported the district's general fund revenues have decreased by 2.9% while expenses have increased by 2.9% compared with the prior year.

Andrews recapped enrollment and revenue-limit figures used to determine state funding. He said membership for funding purposes was 1,570 last year and 1,559 this year, a decline of 11 students; the district's head count this September is 1,540. Andrews said the district's calculated revenue limit for 2025–26 is $18,700,000.

On the district's reserves, Andrews said, "Our fund balance as of 06/30/2025 is 26%," and reminded the board policy sets a target floor of 15%. He added the fund balance is intended for one-time expenses rather than ongoing costs and warned the district could exhaust those reserves without more reliable revenue sources.

The proposed budget adds two special education paraprofessional positions and reports no staffing reductions; Andrews also noted 29 retirements, resignations or transfers since last year. On facilities and operations, he listed continuing hail-damage roof and HVAC repairs, sound improvements to the high school auditorium, and an update to door access control software, as well as higher property and business insurance costs.

Andrews detailed the revenue mix and major funds: roughly 27% of general revenues come from property taxes, about 64% from state sources and 3.8% from federal sources. He said the community service fund (fund 80) is budgeted at $125,000, which he estimated represents about 1.3% of the district's total levy and funds a weekend custodian and a crossing guard contracted through the city of Platteville.

After the presentation, Superintendent Jim Bable and Andrews invited questions; none were raised. The board then moved to adjourn; a motion to adjourn (moved by Curt, seconded by Betsy) was called, an "aye" vote was recorded and the motion carried. The budget hearing concluded and the annual meeting was scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.

The district's presentation materials referenced in Andrews's remarks include mill-rate history, fund-by-fund levy detail, and debt schedules for the 2015 and 2022 capital referendums. The budget packet lists the general fund levy at $6,053,824 and restates the total levy at $9,583,899.