Alexandria Township board adopts tentative $12.52M 2025–26 budget, approves health-care and banked-cap adjustments

The Alexandria Township Board of Education on March 20 approved a tentative budget for the 2025–26 school year totaling $12,521,422, with taxes to be raised of $10,704,901. The board included a $167,400 adjustment for rising health-benefit costs and added $200,652 from banked cap to cover higher-than-anticipated cost increases.

A motion to adopt the tentative budget was made by Doug Walker and seconded by Board President Michael Small. The board recorded the resolution in the meeting minutes: "BE IT RESOLVED that the tentative budget be approved for the 2025-2026 school year using the 2025-2026 state aid figures," and approved the measure by roll call, 8 yes and 1 no (Ann Marie Austin).

The tentative budget uses the district's FY26 state-aid figures and lists specific aid line items: School Choice Aid $238,490; Transportation Aid $288,573; Special Education Categorical Aid $521,855; Security Aid $62,085; Total Aid $1,111,003. The board also set administrative controls for travel and reimbursements: a maximum travel limit of $20,000 for board travel, an $80,000 cap for travel and related reimbursements districtwide, and a $150 per-staff annual threshold for regular district-business travel that does not require prior board approval.

The board's action authorizes the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary to submit the tentative budget to the county superintendent and to advertise the budget as required by state law. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for April 24, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Alexandria Township School.