Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hawthorne board adopts $61.45M tentative budget with 7.42% tax levy increase
Summary
The Hawthorne Public School District board on Tuesday adopted a $61,447,348 tentative budget for 2026–27 that increases the general tax levy by 7.42%, citing a sharp rise in health benefit premiums and costly out‑of‑district placements as primary drivers.
The Hawthorne Public School District board on Tuesday adopted a $61,447,348 tentative budget for the 2026–27 school year, approving a 7.42% increase in the district’s general tax levy.
Business administrator Mrs. Vitali told the board the district projects enrollment of 2,342 students and noted that 268 students attend out‑of‑district placements, a line item that costs the district roughly $2.3 million. She said the district’s health and prescription premiums are projected to increase by about 30%, a change that the presentation calculated as accounting for most of the levy increase. “With the average sales home in Hawthorne of $381,800, the tax would go up an additional $43.35 per month,” Mrs. Vitali said during the financial presentation.
Board materials and the public presentation listed the budget drivers as rising inflation, higher health‑benefit costs, and continued growth in out‑of‑district placements. Administrators noted that roughly 85% of the budget is tied to fixed costs — including special education, salaries, benefits and transportation — leaving limited options for cuts that would not affect programs.
To help cover capital and maintenance needs next year, the district proposed withdrawals from reserves: $1,151,511 from capital reserve and $645,822 from maintenance reserve. Administrators reported reserves of about $5.35 million at the close of 2024–25 and said remaining balances after proposed withdrawals would be about $1.3 million in capital reserve and $436,000 in maintenance reserve.
Superintendent Mr. Minionelli outlined program priorities tied to the budget, including continued one‑to‑one devices for grades 6–12, expanded AP and dual‑enrollment options, investments in cybersecurity and visitor‑management systems, and efforts to build in‑district special‑education capacity to reduce costly outside placements.
Board members who spoke in general comment defended the decision to adopt the levy, emphasized the difficulty of the choices and the potential long‑term harm of recurring cuts, and called for higher‑level action to address systemwide health‑benefit cost pressures. Several members praised the finance committee and administration for months of work on the budget.
The board voted to adopt the budget and approved related items B2 through B6; recorded roll call votes on the tentative budget were unanimous among present members. The meeting also approved personnel resolutions and a short‑term payroll consultant engagement to cover a payroll clerk resignation through June 30; those items passed on voice/roll call votes as presented.
What happens next: this is the board’s tentative budget adoption. Additional state reviews and the usual public‑hearing processes will follow before any final levy is fixed.The board adjourned after completing the scheduled actions.
