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Jefferson Township board advances 2025-26 budget and approves $1.01M Tax Levy Incentive Aid application despite dissent
Summary
Board leaders presented the 2025-26 budget and, after public questions about class sizes and staffing cuts, approved a package of finance motions including submission of a $1,013,250 Tax Levy Incentive Aid application; one member registered a formal dissent on that application.
The Jefferson Township Board of Education presented its 2025-2026 budget at the April 28 regular meeting and approved a set of finance motions that included submitting an application for Tax Levy Incentive Aid in the amount of $1,013,250.
Superintendent Jeanne Howe and Business Administrator Rita Oroho Giacchi delivered the budget presentation to the board and members of the public. During the public hearing, several audience members asked how possible cuts would affect class sizes and aides, where proceeds from the sale of the Drummond building and rent from the Milton building are applied, and whether state aid and staff reductions had been broken out by category. One commenter suggested the district could meet budget targets without the proposed 5.67% increase; another offered private-sector efficiency assistance.
The board approved motions L.1–L.20 as a consent package, which included the purchase order list ($450,332.50), the vendors’ bills release ($504,660.04), and a check register totaling $7,328,074.24 (broken out by fund: General Fund $6,529,961.84; Special Revenue $452,635.42; Referendum $168,150.50; Debt Service $177,326.48). The package also authorized submission of the Tax Levy Incentive Aid application for SY26 ($1,013,250) and approved the 2025-2026 Preschool Budget ($4,685,400).
Board member Mrs. Mallimo-Orna provided a Minority Report during committee discussion expressing disagreement about applying for the Tax Levy Incentive Aid. The board carried the motions with one recorded dissent on Agenda Item L.7 (the Tax Levy Incentive Aid application). The board did not adopt additional specific staffing numbers during the public hearing; audience members requested clearer public accounting of proposed staff reductions between teaching and other staff categories.
Next steps: the administration will proceed with the submitted application and continue to develop budget documents for the public; the board’s recorded votes will be reflected in the official minutes and filings.
