Melrose board approves 2025 property tax levy and several budget actions

The Melrose Public School District board voted to certify the final 2024 (payable 2025) property tax levy — a proposal totaling just over $2.9 million — after a Truth-in-Taxation presentation by Business Manager Stephanie Bard.

Bard told the board the district ended the last fiscal year with roughly $900,000 in increased fund balances, about 81% of which are restricted for specific uses. She said the food-service fund grew by more than $331,000, largely because of new state meal funding, and that the district’s total enrollment is stable (1,280 last year to a projected 1,271 this year). Bard said the proposed levy represents about a 7.39% increase over last year’s levy, but individual property-owner impacts should be smaller because of increases in the district tax base and expanded homestead exclusions.

“Most of our revenue comes from state aid (about 76 percent),” Bard said in explaining the budget structure; she noted the district expects only a small decline in fund balance (about $39,000) under current projections and will present a revised budget in January with updated figures.

After the levy presentation and a public opportunity to comment (no speakers), the board moved to approve and certify the levy. The board also approved an annual budget-reduction resolution that permits preemptive cuts if future legislative action requires them.

In the same meeting trustees approved acceptance of multiple community donations, including winter clothing and materials and substantial in-kind and material donations to upgrade the district metal shop. Administrators said the metal-shop improvements — including new welders and electrical work and an iron worker expected to be purchased with Perkins grant funds — will materially expand career-and-technical learning opportunities for students and are expected to be largely implemented by mid-January.

The board also approved a negotiated notice of assignment for food-service workers covering the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years; administrators said the pay adjustments bring food-service positions more in line with market rates and are consistent with recent custodial adjustments. The treasurer’s report and the consent agenda (routine hires/resignations) were approved without objection.

The district will complete certification paperwork with the county; Bard noted first-half property-tax collections for the levy will occur in May 2025 and the second half in October 2025, with county remittances to schools arriving between November 2025 and June 2026.