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Board reviews preliminary budget; wind-tower revenue, preschool and food-service deficits highlighted
Summary
The Deuel School District 19-4 board reviewed the preliminary 2025–26 budget, noting a projected wind-tower revenue stream (~$681,000), a planned $150,000 bus purchase (with a $35,000 rebate), a preschool enterprise fund running a projected deficit and a food service shortfall requiring a $100,000 transfer.
Deuel School District 19-4 officials presented a preliminary budget and budget assumptions and asked the board to review revenue, transfers and capital requests ahead of the public hearing and final approval.
Business manager Ellen told the board the general fund preliminary expenditures are roughly $5.43 million and the district is projecting wind-turbine revenue of about $681,000 for the coming year. She cautioned those are projections and that county property valuation figures and utility valuation inputs are still pending. "Our projections that we'll get from the wind towers is 681,000," Ellen said during the presentation.
On capital needs, the board discussed a planned new school bus budgeted at about $150,000 and noted the district expects a manufacturer rebate of roughly $35,000 that will be applied when the outdated vehicle is retired. The board also reviewed capital outlay per-pupil guidance (the state figure cited was $3,869 per student for 2025–26) and a current student count used in planning (523 pupils).
Enterprise funds and program costs were central to the discussion. Ellen reported food service operations face an estimated shortfall that would require a roughly $100,000 transfer from another fund to maintain operations, and the district has converted preschool to an enterprise fund (charging $125 per month with about 24 students budgeted), which still projects a deficit (roughly $35,188 in the preliminary numbers). Board members flagged that out‑of‑district special‑education placements (one this year, possibly two next year) and rising co-op service costs (speech, OT, etc.) are increasing expenditure pressures.
Board members agreed to continue reviewing the preliminary numbers and to revisit the budget in June and again during the required public hearing process; the board will not approve a final levy until county valuations are finalized.
