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Wyoming County Schools previews FY25 budget as health premiums and raises push costs higher
Summary
District staff presented a preliminary FY25 budget showing a projected drop in unreserved fund balance, new raises for employees, a sizable PEIA premium increase and a plan to post the budget for 10 days before final approval at the May 14 meeting.
Ms. Church, the district staff lead on budget matters, told the board the preliminary FY25 proposal reduces the unreserved fund balance from $6.0 million last year to $5.5 million next year and budgets 422 positions for fund 11, down from 438 last year. "Last year we did 6 million and for next year we did 5.5," she said.
She walked the board through line items and statewide requirements, including a retirement allocation of about $1.4 million and a PEIA allocation the district has set at roughly $4.5 million. Ms. Church said employee-only PEIA premiums rose from about $9,400 on average in FY25 to $10,309 for the coming year, and that state aid did not increase to offset that cost.
The draft includes a negotiated one-time annual salary step: professionals received a $1,560 raise and service personnel an $870 raise; the package applies to coaches and other extracurricular staff. "If it's a hired person, then we're contributing to retirement, as well," Ms. Church said, noting the higher pay also raises benefit costs.
Ms. Church said the state requires a 5% contingency be coded in the budget; if the district cannot reach that threshold it must seek approval from the state department. She told members documents supporting the revenue and allocation figures are included in the packet and that specific line-item reconciliations will be available when the final packet posts.
Board members were told the proposal is preliminary and must be posted for public inspection for 10 days before a final vote. Ms. Church requested the board carry the item to the May 14 meeting for final approval. No final vote on the budget occurred at this meeting.
What happens next: the board will post the full FY25 packet for the required public inspection period and revisit the budget at the May 14 meeting for a final vote. Board members may ask staff for follow-up numbers or clarifications before that session.
