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Tomorrow River board adopts tentative budget, raises levy and approves multiple resolutions
Summary
At its October annual meeting and budget hearing, the Tomorrow River School District board approved a tentative $5.69 million budget, set a levy rate of $7.71 (including a small additional amount to cover community-service fund shortfalls), and carried a slate of routine resolutions by voice vote.
The Tomorrow River School District Board of Education approved a tentative operating budget of $5,693,950 and set a tax levy that yields a rate of $7.71, board members said during the district’s annual meeting and budget hearing in October 2024. Treasurer Bob Ptichinski reported the district’s fiscal-year balances, including $3,547,000 on hand and a construction fund balance of $4,566,130.40.
The board discussed a shortfall in the community-service/after-school fund that appeared as a negative balance in the public packet. To address that gap, members voted to add the proposed supplemental amount to the levy (described at the hearing as roughly a 2¢ per $1,000 increase) after a public motion and voice vote. The hearing then proceeded with the levy set as proposed.
The meeting included several additional resolutions and routine authorizations, each adopted by motion and voice vote. Notable approvals included a resolution to provide free textbooks to Fowler School students; setting school board member pay at $200 per month ($2,400 annually); authorizing the district to contract for transportation services in accordance with statute 121.54; directing the district to provide food-service programs at appropriate charges; authorizing the prosecution or defense of legal actions on the district’s behalf; and authorizing short-term borrowing of up to $900,000 as an available option.
Board members also approved motions to authorize lease and acquisition authority for school property; to dispose of or sell surplus property (excluding real estate) with internal posting requirements; and to set the district’s 2025 annual meeting for Oct. 27, 2025. Administrative staff reported enrollment totals (on-site total 950; district total including charter and virtual students 1,203), noting a decline from previous years.
Votes at a glance (all by voice vote unless otherwise noted): the tentative budget ($5,693,950) and levy rate; free-textbook resolution for Fowler School; board salaries at $200/month; authorization to contract for transportation services (statute 121.54); food-service charging policy; authorization to pursue legal action or defense; disposal of surplus property; authorization to short-term borrow up to $900,000; authorizations to lease and to acquire real estate; acceptance of a $1,500 donation to the FFA activity account; approval of an early-graduation request for January 2025; approval of personnel items including a teacher-contract overload and a 0.4 FTE charter hire; and approval to advocate for increased open-enrollment funding to state representatives and associations.
Why it matters: The levy decision finalizes the local tax rate the district will present for public adoption and funds routine operations and specific programs, including after-school services. Several of the passing motions establish administrative authorities (borrowing, property use, legal representation) that affect budgeting and operations in the near term.
The board said it will take formal final action on the budget after the regular meeting and follow the typical public-hearing process; many of the enacted items were routine annual authorizations required by statute or customary district practice.
