Monticello board adopts 2026–27 budget; general fund balance projected up $2.4 million

The Monticello Public School District Board of Education on June 15 approved the district's 2026–27 budget and several rate updates, voting 6–0.

Director of Business Services Tina Burkholder presented the final budget, telling the board the general fund balance is projected to increase by roughly $2.4 million, driven in large part by a newly approved operating referendum. Burkholder described fund-level details: capital outlay spending of insurance proceeds expected to decline through the coming year, a roughly $100,000 planned kitchen capital improvement at Little Mountain (food service capital), and an anticipated food-service fund shortfall of about $14,000 related to lower anticipated meal counts.

Burkholder said the district is planning for an 8% health‑insurance increase in preliminary assumptions (final premium changes expected late July/early August) and noted property‑tax revenue will increase for pay‑26 due to the new levy (presentation cited an approximate 25% increase in that revenue line tied to the levy). She also reviewed cash‑flow and investment timing assumptions covering the next 18 months and said the projections showed positive cash flow under the stated assumptions.

Separately, the board approved updated activity and community‑education hourly rates and adjusted substitute rates for teachers and support staff; presenters described market corrections for aquatics coordinators, revised compensation for Magic Adventure student aides, and alignment of retiree substitute rates with step‑one master contract rates.

Board member Mark Branson moved to adopt the budget; Casey Root seconded. The motion carried 6–0.