The budget reflects a 2% tax levy increase, amounting to $22,469,72, and incorporates a 7.5% increase in state aid. The operating budget is set at $28,508,854, which includes salaries and benefits, special education tuition, facilities maintenance, transportation, and security. Salaries account for approximately 40% of the budget, while benefits make up another 10%. Special education tuition and tuition for high school students represent a portion of expenses. The Board expressed efforts to increase in-district special education programs to provide better financial efficiencies and potentially generate revenue by accepting students from other districts once space becomes available.

A focus of the meeting was the high cost of external tuition, which consumes roughly 33% of the budget. The Board discussed the importance of negotiating fairer tuition rates with out-of-district schools to ensure financial resources are directed efficiently. A point of concern was raised about the need for rigorous student residency checks to prevent paying for students who do not reside in the district. The Board emphasized their role as fiscal stewards and discussed the potential of re-registering students, especially those without younger siblings in the district, to ensure that each student’s residency status is current and accurate.