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District reports budget turnaround and delays pool demolition; board set summer tax-rate request
Summary
The district’s budget presenter reported a projected $218,000 excess revenue and a fund balance above $3 million; staff recommended postponing pool demolition until spring due to structural and permitting timelines and presented a summer tax-rate request reflecting a 4.43% property valuation increase and a millage-reduction fraction of 0.9959.
The district’s budget representative told the board on May 18 that Tecumseh Public Schools is projecting a stronger fiscal-year finish, with a proposed excess revenue of $218,000 and a fund-balance estimate of just over $3,000,000 (roughly 8.84% of the budget).
"The good news is, that the budget's back to being balanced in in the black," the presenter said, after outlining revenue and expenditure adjustments.
The presenter explained that while reported revenues increased by roughly $561,000 since January, about $425,000 of that change is matched by offsetting expenditures, leaving approximately $136,000 in net discretionary funds. Line-item changes included grant adjustments, reductions where staffing positions were left vacant, Title I increases and reimbursements related to a tax-tribunal assessment.
On capital projects, facilities staff reported structural issues with the high-school pool and recommended postponing demolition until spring to avoid classroom disruption and to allow more time for permitting and bidding. Staff also said one high-school softball dugout is structurally compromised and the district has a not-to-exceed $12,000 agreement with an engineering firm to prepare drawings and permit applications ahead of demolition and rebuild contracting.
Staff flagged a potential $200,000 grant recommendation from the Lenawee Community Foundation for tennis-court improvements; the foundation’s decision is expected at its June meeting and the USTA is conducting soil borings.
The business office also presented the annual summer tax-rate request. Staff reported total district property value rose by 4.43% to $893,472,300 and explained the required millage-reduction fraction of 0.9959 under state law. Staff said the sinking-fund rate would roll to approximately 1.7361 mills and that non-homestead operating mills could remain at 18; the board was asked to approve the formal levy request later in the meeting to meet township and county deadlines.
Nut graf: Trustees received a combined fiscal and facilities update that moved the district toward a balanced-year close while highlighting capital-timing trade-offs: delaying demolition reduces near-term disruption and may improve contractor competition, but extends the period the pool structure remains in place.
Trustees asked clarifying questions and thanked maintenance and custodial staff for progress on summer tasks. The board later approved the formal tax-rate request as part of consent business.
Next steps: staff will continue design and permitting work for the dugout and pool projects, await grant decisions on tennis courts and finalize the budget amendment for approval at the June meeting and audit close-out.
