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Budget committee advances third draft; senior dining may continue with $2 per‑meal increase and staffing condition
Summary
The Waunakee Community School District budget committee approved moving the third draft of the 2026‑27 budget to the full board and heard that continuation of the Dane County senior dining program depends on a $2 per‑meal price increase and filling a vacant staff position by Jan. 1, 2027.
The budget committee for the Waunakee Community School District voted July 13 to advance the district’s third draft of the 2026‑27 budget to the full board.
District staff presented the draft and identified updates including the July 1 state aid estimate and adjusted property‑tax levy calculations. During the presentation staff asked the committee to approve advancing the third draft so final grant allocations and any staffing changes can be resolved by the October timeline.
The committee also heard from the senior center director about the Dane County senior dining program and options for its continuation. The presenter said the program could continue only if two conditions are met beginning Jan. 1, 2027: ‘‘there is a meal increase in the price and then also that we have to find somebody who will staff that position’’ (Presenter, S3). The senior center director described the program’s scale and funding mix, saying it serves ‘‘about 80 to 100 meals a day,’’ is supported largely by Older Americans Act federal funds, and receives county and levy support.
The senior center director gave specifics on negotiated meal rates: congregate meals would rise from $5.16 to $7.16 and home‑delivered meals from $5.62 to $7.62. She said home‑delivered meals require a qualification assessment by case managers, who follow up if clients miss deliveries. Committee members asked who would recruit and fund the staff role; staff said recruitment responsibility will rest with Tahir (staff), and funding details will be included in the budget presented to the full board.
A committee member moved to send the third draft to the full board; another committee member seconded the motion and the committee voted to advance the draft. The committee will receive an updated financial plan in early August and the district expects to finalize property‑tax and state‑aid figures in October.
The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.
