Somerton board approves FY24-25 budget, greenlights tax increase tied to traffic-signal project

The Somerton Elementary District board voted June 25 to adopt the proposed FY24-25 budget and to approve a Truth in Taxation increase intended to fund adjacent-ways work for a traffic signal at Stan Louise.

The vote followed a public hearing in which Philip Clark, a resident who gave his address to the board, said he supported teachers and asked for clarification about several budget lines. Clark noted a line showing zero under federal funds for teacher salaries while another section referenced a percentage increase and asked whether teachers would receive raises. "I'm here supporting teachers," Clark said, and asked whether the apparent zeros referred only to federal funds.

District finance staff, identified in the meeting as Miss Rosario, responded that the notation cited in the budget document represented an average and clarified the planned teacher increase. "You're correct... it's an average so it would be 4% for all teachers," Miss Rosario said, noting that some salary lines are funded from different sources. She also told the board the Truth in Taxation notice had been published and posted; staff said the notice was published on the 14th and that the proposed increase had been posted to the district website.

Budget and tax details discussed in the meeting included a federal line titled "helping disadvantaged children," which the resident and board discussed as Title I funding. Clark asked how roughly $2.5 million listed under that line was used; Miss Rosario said Title I funds are spent on a range of educational costs and offered to provide a breakdown. The transcript also records a separate meals-related amount of just over $3 million.

On the proposed adjacent-ways tax increase, staff explained the district's example figures to illustrate homeowner impacts: staff said the increase would "average $26.30 per household," and illustrated that a $100,000 home could pay about $263 for the year; during follow-up clarification a staff member said the published figure should be understood on the annual "per 100" assessment basis. Board members and staff framed these as examples to help constituents understand the expected annual cost.

Procedurally, the board closed the public hearing by voice vote, then approved the consent agenda and moved to item 7.1, adopting the FY24-25 budget as proposed (motion by Miss Clark; second by Miss Delgadio). The board then approved the proposed tax increase for adjacent ways tied to the traffic-signal project (motion by Miss Clark; second by Miss Torres). The transcript records voice votes and "motion carries" statements but does not include a recorded roll-call tally or per-member recorded votes.

The board ended the meeting after approving other routine items and announcements. Staff said a budget revision will be prepared and submitted in September, as noted during opening remarks.

Next steps: the district will proceed with required filings and the adjacent-ways project planning tied to the approved tax increase; staff offered to provide the resident with a more detailed Title I expenditure breakdown on request.