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Greendale School District presents balanced $39.4 million preliminary budget, projects roughly 4% tax-levy rise
Summary
District finance staff presented a $39,393,934 preliminary 2026–27 budget that uses the district's full $2.5 million operational referendum authority and projects a $662,941 tax-levy increase (about 4%); board will review a preliminary budget for approval in June.
Jonathan, the district finance presenter, told the board the preliminary budget for 2026–27 is balanced at $39,393,934 and uses the full $2,500,000 operational referendum authority approved in prior years.
"The budget that we've presented to the board is in balance at $39,393,934," Jonathan said during the presentation, listing capital and technology projects planned for the summer, including a Brinkman parking-lot replacement, gym balcony ramp work, and upgrades to network switches, cameras, production servers and UPS batteries.
He said staffing remains the largest portion of the budget and the administration developed a staffing model tied to board-established class-size bands. The presentation projected a beginning fund balance of just over $6,000,000 (about 15.4% of next year's expenses) and described a multi-year effort to restore historical reserve levels after pandemic-related spending.
Special education funding was a major focus. Jonathan said the district expects a reimbursement rate in the high 39% range next year (estimated around 39.6–39.8%), below a cited maximum of 45% in state budget language. He noted recent state budget discussions that, if resolved in the district's favor, could reduce the transfer needed from the general fund for special education.
On debt and capital funds, the presenter summarized fund 38 (nonreferendum debt) and fund 39 (referendum debt), saying the district has reduced its nonreferendum debt substantially and is budgeting $1,800,000 to fund the fund-39 levy while reserving additional dollars to smooth future payments.
Jonathan also said the district has pursued grant and alternative revenue sources and cited a potential $47,000 annual increase in state aid tied to a particular federal-flow-through strategy the district explored for a renovation project.
The board did not take final action on the budget; the administration said it will bring a preliminary budget back on June 15 for board approval after additional review and a facilities presentation.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of May 4, 2026 meeting minutes: Motion moved by board member S8 and seconded by S1; roll call was taken and the chair declared the motion passed. (Transcript records the motion and the chair’s statement that the motion passed.)
- Approval of checks and disbursements ($1,763,451.49): Motion moved by S11 and seconded by S12; roll call was taken and the chair declared the motion passed.
- Appointment of new school psychologist (agenda item 4.1): Motion moved by S8 and seconded by S1; roll call was taken and the chair declared the motion passed.
What happens next
The board will review a preliminary budget on June 15, when facilities staff will present additional auxiliary-service and capital-project details; the board is scheduled to take formal action on the budget in June.
