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Hartford UHS School District approves final 2024–25 budget, adopts lower tax levy
Summary
The Hartford UHS School District board approved a final 2024–25 budget that narrows a previously projected deficit and adopted a tax levy about $1.1 million lower than last year; the board also approved Start College Now course applications that expose the district to up to $45,000 in costs.
The Hartford UHS School District board voted to approve the district’s final 2024–25 budget and to adopt a tax levy that the administration said is materially lower than last year.
Rob Nelson, who presented the preliminary budget the board approved in July, said the administration projects roughly $20.37 million in fund‑10 expenditures for 2024–25 and has reduced an earlier deficit estimate to “about minus $45,000” once final enrollment and state aid figures are included. Nelson also explained the state revenue‑limit process and said the district counted 1,465 resident students for the revenue‑limit calculation.
The budget vote was taken by roll call and passed unanimously. The board then approved a 2024–25 property tax levy described in documents as about $10.284 million in total — consisting of the general fund levy, non‑referendum debt service, and a $345,000 capital expansion levy — a reduction the administration quantified as roughly a 7.8% decrease and a mill rate of about 1.75 (down from 2.05 last year).
The district also approved Start College Now applications for spring 2025. Superintendent Walters and staff said the Start College Now program provides college or technical‑college courses that benefit students but carries a local cost; administration estimated the district’s exposure for approved applications at up to about $45,000. That motion passed on roll call.
Board members and administrators noted several factors that helped lower the levy request: larger state equalization aid in the current biennium, modest enrollment changes in the three‑year averaging formula and local property revaluations. Nelson told the board that salary and benefits remain the largest single expenditure — about 60% of fund‑10 spending — and that the district had intentionally used one‑time fund balance for capital needs in prior years.
The board adjourned the open meeting and announced a planned move to closed session to discuss public‑employee matters.
