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DeWitt Public Schools adopts 2026-27 budget with $1.29 million shortfall; board also OKs bond pre-application
Summary
The DeWitt Public Schools Board approved the district's 2026-27 budgets, projecting a $1,287,256 gap in the general fund, and authorized a preliminary bond pre-application to the state for a proposed capital plan that would maintain the current 10-mill debt rate.
The DeWitt Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday adopted the district's 2026-27 budgets and approved a preliminary bond pre-application to the state preparing the district to seek voter approval for capital work.
Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Rob presented the budget framework the board approved, saying the district based the plan on the governor's proposal and expects $40,829,365 in general-fund revenue against $42,116,721 in expenditures. "The foundation increase of $250 per pupil will be about $772,000," Rob said, but he also warned that changes to categorical calculations and enrollment declines will leave the district with a $1,287,256 deficit in operating funds for 2026-27.
The board approved the budget by voice vote after discussion. The motion to adopt the 2026-27 budgets listed the general fund totals above and recorded the district's other fund totals in the motion: community education revenues of $996,000 (expenditures $1,022,500), food service revenues and expenditures balanced at about $1.435 million, and student activity funds at $800,000.
Rob told the board that after removing one-time items the district faces a structural deficit the board should monitor: "Structurally we're at a deficit of $387,000," he said, pointing to the effects of retirements, step increases and changes in state categorical revenues.
On tax rates, Rob said the board will keep proposed levies at 18 mills for operating purposes, 1.7 mills on commercial property and 10 mills for debt, figures that were included in the materials the board voted to adopt.
In a separate motion the board approved a preliminary qualification application to submit a proposed capital plan to the state. Capital planning staff described a three-phase program to address school facilities and security and upgrade classrooms and extracurricular spaces. The presenters said the approach would generate roughly $157 million in capital funding "and maintains the current mill of 10 mills with no tax rate increase," according to Jeffary Point, the capital-planning presenter. The board voted to file the pre-application, a step that begins the state's review and validation process.
No roll-call vote with names and tallies was recorded in the public transcript; motions were called and carried by voice vote. The board packet lists the bond pre-application number and the budget totals adopted in the motion.
Next steps for the bond process will include state review of the pre-application and, if the board moves forward, a ballot-information campaign between the state review and election day. The budget will go into effect July 1 with monitoring and potential adjustments if subsequent state budget actions change the district's revenue outlook.
