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Rockford board approves FY2025 budget, adopts 10-year facilities plan and OKs $900,000-a-year tech levy for ballot
Summary
At its June 17 meeting the Rockford Area Schools board adopted the FY2025 budget and a required 10-year Long-Term Facility Maintenance plan, approved an insurance renewal and passed a resolution to place a $900,000-per-year capital/technology levy on the November ballot. All motions carried.
The Rockford Area Schools Board of Education approved a series of financial measures at its June 17 meeting, including the district's FY2025 budget, a 10‑year long-term facility maintenance (LTFM) plan and a resolution to place a capital/technology levy question on the November ballot.
CFO consultant Bridget Peterson presented the FY2025 summary budget, saying total district revenue across funds is about $30 million and proposing a general fund revenue figure of roughly $21,947,000 against expenditures of about $22,125,000. Peterson said those figures produce a projected $177,000 operating deficit driven largely by conservative enrollment assumptions (1,485 pupils) and by bond payments. The board moved to adopt the budget and approved the motion by voice vote.
On the facilities front, Peterson described the statutory LTFM submission required by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), walked the board through revenue and expense worksheets and warned that without future adjustments the district would draw down certain fund balances. The board voted by roll call to adopt the FY'26 LTFM 10‑year plan, which enables access to formula LTFM funding.
Separately, Superintendent Reidel Hoover and district staff presented a resolution to place a capital/technology levy on the November general election ballot for $900,000 per year. Board members said the levy request reflects ongoing technology and special-project needs and aims to avoid asking for more than the district needs; the resolution passed by roll call and will appear on the ballot for voter consideration.
The board also approved renewal of the district's property, liability and workers' compensation insurance. The presenter said the roughly $46,000 increase from the prior year was driven mainly by higher property valuations and broader reinsurance pressures following weather-related losses nationwide.
A separate resolution acknowledging community contributions and donations also passed; one board member recorded an abstention during roll-call.
What happens next: Adoption of the FY2025 budget takes effect for the coming school year; the levy resolution authorizes placement of the question on the November ballot but requires voter approval before any new revenues are collected. The district will continue work on LTFM project prioritization and on the FY25 budget monitoring and possible adjustments over the summer and fall.
