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Somerset electors approve tentative 2024–25 levy after debate over middle‑school athletics funding
Summary
At the Somerset School District annual meeting, electors approved a tentative $11.31 million levy after prolonged debate over whether to fund middle‑school athletics and a school resource officer from the community service fund (Fund 80) or the general operating fund (Fund 10). The meeting included a presentation of a preliminary budget and procedural votes.
At the Somerset School District annual meeting, electors approved a tentative property tax levy package after an extended discussion about whether middle‑school athletics and a school resource officer (SRO) should be paid from the community service fund (Fund 80) or the general operating fund (Fund 10).
Dave Gerberding, the district’s director of business services and operations, opened the budget hearing with a presentation of the summary budget, calling it “a snapshot in time” based on early‑to‑mid‑August figures and noting that the third‑Friday pupil count and the Oct. 15 state aid/property valuation certification will determine final amounts. He told electors the packet showed fund levies and a projected combined mill rate “of $6.68 per $1,000” as an informational estimate pending final state numbers.
Discussion centered on the proposed levy totals and fund assignments. One elector proposed a tentative total levy of $11,313,269, broken down as $7,087,014 for Fund 10 (general operations), $4,226,200 for debt service, $55,000 for the SRO and no additional funds to Fund 80. Opponents and supporters debated that approach, with several electors pointing out the board had previously discussed moving middle‑school athletics into Fund 80 to free capacity in Fund 10. Elector Marie Colvin and others said the $140,000 community service line in the packet reflected the board’s proposal to cover the SRO and middle‑school athletics through Fund 80.
Electors ultimately approved an amended resolution that clarified the breakdown and ensured middle‑school athletics would be funded: the assembly added roughly $85,000 back into the Fund 10 figure to cover middle‑school athletics while keeping the SRO shown separately. The moderator called for a hand count; an oral confirmation later in the meeting reported 29 in favor. The assembly treated the mill‑rate figure as informational; Gerberding reiterated final mill calculations will follow state aid and valuation certifications.
Why it matters: The allocation decision affects whether costs for programs that may be available to non‑enrolled community youth (the board and staff had described middle‑school athletics as accessible to community kids) are paid from Fund 80 (a community‑funded revenue source) or from the district’s operating budget, which has different revenue limits and implications for other spending.
What comes next: Gerberding said final levy and mill‑rate figures will be recalculated after the Oct. 15 aid certification and final property valuations. The electorate’s tentative approvals set the district’s direction for budget adoption procedures this fall.
Quotes and attribution follow the meeting transcript: “This budget is a snapshot in time,” Gerberding said, calling attention to pending state aid and property‑value updates. Electors questioned whether moving athletics to Fund 80 would leave Fund 10 with sufficient capacity for other district needs.
