Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jefferson Township Board approves tentative $71.5M budget, cites $2.95M deficit after state aid shortfall
Summary
The Jefferson Township Board of Education voted to adopt a tentative $71,539,228 budget for 2026–27 that the district says leaves a $2,946,006 deficit after reporting a combined two-year loss of formula-based state aid; a public hearing is set for April 27, 2026.
The Jefferson Township Board of Education voted on March 23 to adopt a tentative $71,539,228 budget for the 2026–27 school year, recording an anticipated deficit of $2,946,006 and scheduling a public hearing on April 27, 2026, at Jefferson Township High School.
The motion, presented as item K.1, said the district is being denied formula-based aid in the amount of $1,166,583 for 2026–27 and had lost $1,190,088 the prior year. The budget document included total expenditures of $71,539,228, anticipated revenues of $13,663,256 and taxes to be raised of $54,929,966.
Board members approved a set of linked finance motions (K.1–K.17) that also set a travel reimbursement maximum of $88,471 for 2026–27, established professional services spending caps at 120% of listed amounts (a set of line-item maxima totaling $377,659), and authorized routine financial items including purchase orders, the February check register and funds transfers.
Several members of the public raised questions during the meeting about the budget slides, the possible sale or closure of the central office building and Milton School, leases on Cozy Lake and Milton Schools, and what steps the district would take to protect assets. One audience member asked when the board would decide which budget option to pursue.
Superintendent Jeanne Howe stated the board voted to submit an unbalanced budget and cautioned that the next steps were uncertain; she said it was anticipated that a state monitor could be brought in and could make cuts. The district did not provide a schedule or list of specific positions targeted for reduction in the adopted tentative budget.
The budget motion also advertises the statutorily required public hearing on April 27, at which the board must receive public comment prior to finalizing or amending the budget. The administration was authorized to submit the tentative budget to the Executive County Superintendent for review in accordance with statutory deadlines.
