001So, we'll start our 2026 budget work session. Change the slide up a little because I we've been using that other one for a decade and it's exhausting. So we'll cover rates, levies, fund the proposed budget for 2026 and our process and timetable. So here's a graph of the education fund revenue history showing our basic grant and other um we don't have much other new in basic or in general fund. This slide is a little scary. It shows our decrease in cash balance from 2021 to what we project in 2025. Okay, here's our levy comparison. 2026, don't forget that's our advertised levy. So, this could come out very different in December when it's approved. And then we can always adjust it after we get approval as well. Um, you'll see there's a jump there in debt
002service from 22 to 23. That's when we started um doing geo bonds to help keep the tax rate levy or tax rate study as the assessed value went up. Operations, you'll see a 4% increase every year in the levy because that's the total that we're held to every year regardless of inflation going up more than 4%. We can only levy more than 4%. Um the issue with raising the levy in operations is it also raises our circuit breaker. So just because we're have a higher levy doesn't mean we're actually going to get all of that increase. Okay. This is our budget comparison again advertised for 2026. Um there in 2024, if you remember, I came to you and asked for a $2 million um reduction in appropriations because there was a mistake on the budget
003previously. So that's why it looks a little higher than most. our bus replacement plan. I have two scheduled on here to replace for 2026. If we did that, it would be through um bond funds and not operations, but I wanted to show just that that's a possibility for next year. Starting in 2027, I show a three-year lease. So, the payments spread out over the next three years. We cannot replace a bus um any sooner than 12 years. So that's why you'll see them kind of spread out like that. And this is a fluid document that we will change every year. All that really matters for 2026. >> Yes. >> Capital improvements plan not because we are not going to purchase anything that costs more than $10,000 out of our operations. We just can't do that
004at this time. um computer equipment software we purchased out of bond. Now I know I stood up here last year and apologized for having to have an extra meeting in October and promised you that wouldn't happen this year. Then the governor said, "Hey, let's enact this bill that will just change everything you've been doing for the past 15 years." So, we have been waiting to get auditor information and working with policy analytics to help us on our um levies for debt and for operations. So, we just received that information a few weeks ago. So, I am asking that the board have a public hearing on the 7th and then we will adopt the budget on the 21st. Any questions or concerns about the budget? I know in previous years we've always tried to keep the
005tax rate level. I'm not sure that's a possibility this year. We'll see where we end up um when we get our 1782 notice, but we're really just going to have to focus on keeping our levy as steady as we can. I think the communications we make >> correct >> because of decreasing valuations the rate's going to go up about >> yes our assess value did drop by 3% this year so much >> 3% >> for the first So, I'm good. >> Yeah, Rush was a larger drop than Henry, but I think it it averaged out to about. So, um the good thing is this year taxpayers will for 2026 will receive a lot of new deductions and so they're not going to fill it if there is an increase. So, that's the good news. >>
006Plus, they get the 300 discount. >> Correct. So, and their value went down. So, their tax bills are going down. So other words, the dollars we received was going to be 3% less than last year. What you're saying, >> right? Because our >> that's based on the state giving uh different kind of credits. >> So not necessarily for assessed value. Some of that is because of the credits but not all of it. Um what will happen is the levy is you take the levy and you divide it by your assessed value and that's your tax rate and then divide times it by 100 and that's your tax rate. So as our levy stays steady or goes up and our assessed value continues to go down that's going to increase the tax rate. So >> and
007that's part of the overall frustration with with this from the beginning is the assessment process and the fluidity of that. Um, I can't imagine what has changed in our county over the last year, in our district over the last year that it resulted in a 3% decrease after so many years of huge increases. >> Yeah. >> Other than simply the desire for it to go down, >> uh, a market face system should not have that. And if you call and ask them about the AD, the reason why they raised it, it's because of the market. The market is so much higher now. And that's reason why you're able. But what they're doing now, it doesn't look to me like that market going up or staying at a plateau means anything. That's it. I mean, >>
008and we I have received um parcel level data from Henry County and I have sent that on to policy analytics. So they'll kind of dive in and deep rent it out and see parcel by parcel where the rate changes were >> and if even if we were to decrease our rate it doesn't mean that it will be a taxpayers because otherwise are going to grab that up. >> Sure. >> That's policy analytics is working on for us right now. I'd like to have that number. How much would we actually have to decrease before the typical taxpayer saw that in their bill? H how how much would have to be decreased to fill the circuit breaker loss of all other taxing entities first? Because I think that's probably marketly large probably 11 or more. Okay. the
009door. Any other questions? >> Nice. [Music] I don't know what's coming. I have something. That's wrong. [Music] What? Don't So, >> this is the first time that I've ever had tears doing [Music] One minute. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, it's the same All right. >> I have seven o'clock. Is everyone bleeding right? I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing. Let me see it. >> Oh, I thought I know it was you. You wouldn't even interrupt. It was just Stephanie going over the budget. [Laughter] It's actually my fault. >> Mr. Person, would I ask you to do the roll call, please? >> Wade Batty >> here. >> Cynthia Neil >> here. >>
010Geral Leonard >> here. >> Graham Richardson >> here. >> Melissa Toss >> here. >> Monica Van Hoy >> here. Tom Shetzel >> here. Seven members present. I will call the September 15th board meeting to order. Board members, you have the agenda in front of you. >> Mr. President, I'll make the motion to adopt the agenda as presented. >> I'll second. Mr. President, >> motion by Mrs. Second by Mrs. Foy to adopt the agenda for this evening. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> The same motion carries. >> Minutes from our >> August 12. Yeah. Mr. President, I'll make a motion to accept the minutes from August 12th. >> Second, Mr. President. >> Motion to Mr. Van Hoy. Second, Mr. to approve the minutes of our August 12th regular board meeting. Any additions
011or corrections? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Both the same car. >> Any visitors registered? Mr. Benny. >> Yes. One. >> Mr. Tigers. I just have a little document I'd like to read here. Um, as you've been made aware of the incident concerning our son Bo Titus on August 18th, 2025. We would like to express our concerns to the board as we have revisited this incident endlessly among ourselves. We have appreciated the support and communication we received from Superintendent Mr. Vainy during the investigation process. We want to address the board ourselves with our expectations as parents and members of this community. At this point, we feel there has been ample time to address this incident and develop a definitive plan of action to prevent this neglect from happening to other students at
012nighttime elementary school. Our understanding is the position of school nurse, quote unquote school nurse or quote unquote medical assistant at Nightstown Elementary School is actually an unlicensed assistant personnel with no licensing or medical. This is extremely misleading when the staff member is referred to as a medical assistant. We feel as if this incident could have easily been avoided if the school's medical assistant contacted the licensed medical professional or had adequate recognized training to be their quote unquote medical school. This job title does not represent a position or transparency to the public. fully understand that every school cannot have a BS limit at their location, but is unacceptable to have someone with no formalized medical education be responsible for the medical care of young children. Other son was overlooked because he was not throwing a fit
013about he fell at 10:02 a.m. medical staff member contacted his mother at 10:28 reporting he was fine and back at recess. Then his arm fracture was immediately noticed by family who carried him off the school bus at 3:50