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Wabash schools seek $116,000 appropriation to settle maintenance-of-effort refund
Summary
At a public hearing April 27, Wabash City Schools Superintendent Sidley told the council the district needs an additional appropriation to refund about $116,000 to the state for a maintenance-of-effort shortfall tied to use of federal ESSER funds; the council approved the related resolution.
Mayor Scott A. Long opened a public hearing on April 27 on additional appropriations requested by Wabash City Schools. Superintendent Sidley told the council the request does not ask for new tax revenue but authorizes the district to spend funds it already holds.
Sidley said the district must refund roughly $116,000 to the Indiana Department of Education because in one prior year ESSER federal dollars had been used for special-education staffing and could not be counted toward the state-required maintenance of effort. He said he has worked with state officials for about three and a half years to determine the amount to repay.
Council members asked no substantive questions during the hearing. Later in the meeting the council approved Resolution No. 8, 2026 (additional appropriations for Wabash City Schools) by roll call; members were asked to sign the resolution following the vote.
The superintendent and council framed the action as an accounting and compliance step to resolve a past maintenance-of-effort issue rather than a request for new local taxes.
