School board accepts 2024–25 proposed budget for public hearing; final vote set for Oct. 28

The La Crosse School District Board of Education on Oct. 7 accepted the district’s proposed 2024–25 budget for publication and set a public budget hearing for Oct. 21 and a final vote and levy certification for Oct. 28.

Miss Spring, presenting the budget, said the document is the second presentation this fall and that by statute the budget must be published at least 15 days before the hearing. Board members were told some state-provided numbers (third‑Friday property valuations and equalization aid) are expected after Oct. 15 and will be included in the final presentation. "We do not have all the numbers until third Friday property value equalization Aid voucher dollars," Miss Spring said, explaining the timing for the final budget.

Board members asked for clarification on where to find total expenditures in the published format; administrators pointed to a fund‑level presentation and a fund summary in the budget book. The published document shows consolidated fund totals and a net expenditures figure listed around $124 million for publication purposes. The board unanimously moved to accept the proposed budget as presented to proceed to the Oct. 21 hearing and the Oct. 28 final vote.

Next steps: the board will hear public comment at the Oct. 21 budget hearing and reconvene Oct. 28 to adopt the final budget and certify the levy; state deadlines require final certification no later than Nov. 1.