Mineral Point board approves revised 2024–25 budget, certifies $5.15 million levy

The Mineral Point Unified School District board on Tuesday approved a revised 2024–25 budget and certified the district's tax levy, moves district staff said narrow a previously larger projected deficit and lock in levy figures used for tax-year reporting.

District staff told the board the revised budget incorporates newly released state figures, an increase in open-enrollment revenue and reductions in voucher-related expenditures that together reduced the district's projected shortfall. "Our deficit went from $494,000 down to $44,000 at this point in time," a district staff member said while urging approval of the updated Skyward/reporting numbers.

The brief meeting packet, staff said, shows specific adjustments: a roughly $49,000 reduction in the general fund property tax payment, about $26,000 in additional open-enrollment revenue, an $18,000 reduction in general equalization aid and roughly $130,000 in reduced voucher-program expenditures. Staff explained part of that improvement reflects students returning from voucher programs to full-time district enrollment, which reduces expenditures the district otherwise would have taxed for.

Board members also certified the district's tax levy. Staff reviewed historical levy and mill-rate comparisons and said the total fall 2024 all-funds tax levy is $5,151,278, producing a mill rate reported as about $827.56 (rounded to $828). Staff attributed the levy increase since 2015 to general inflation and reassessed property valuations; the packet shows a long-term comparison of levy totals and mill rates.

Discussion during the levy agenda item touched on how enrollment calculations and state programs affect aid and charges. Staff explained the three-year rolling average used for enrollment calculations, noting the district's current September head count and how a two-student decline generated a declining-enrollment exemption that increased state aid by about $26,600. Board members asked for clarification of the Wisconsin Parent Choice and Racine County parent-choice amounts; staff said parent choice charges vary with the number of district residents using vouchers (and are not income-based) while Racine County program disbursements are allocated from a state-managed pool.

The board voted on both items by roll call. The revised budget passed with recorded affirmative votes from Dr. Dunn, Skelding, Johnston, Eisner and Bush. The levy certification also passed on a recorded unanimous vote of the same members. The transcript does not record the names of the motion's mover and seconder for either item.

The board adjourned after certifying the levy.