001We're unmuted. >> All you Paul, >> we don't have to do the pledge. Welcome everybody to our budget committee meeting. Deian's going to go over a few things on where we're at for end of year. Um, I got a couple questions. One thing that I was asking that we don't know yet is diesel's at over $5 a gallon. We're I was asking Kelly what that does to our transportation contract. He doesn't know yet. So, he's going to figure out in the next week or so and let me know. Uh what was the other thing, Don? >> The budget. >> For the budget, it was the diesel searchcharge. That was it. That was all in the bus. The other thing is a tough thing to do. >> And then the only other question is do we
002have uh insurance figures back yet for >> our increase was 4%. >> It was four. >> They kept it >> the Yeah, insurance was 4%. We were shooting for three and a half. >> Yep. >> Three and a half to five. You didn't go over five. >> Hit it at four. pretty close. >> What's that do for us for next year? >> Well, I did put in um a preliminary budget into sheets and I didn't put in any extra. So, this is salary, benefits, utilities. I guesstimated some athletics. Um that budget and then software. I put in a little software just where I knew it would be. Um [snorts] and we're over by 266,000. >> 266,000. >> Yep. That's zero anything extra. That is salaries, benefits, um ins property insurance. I mean things that we
003need to run the district >> basic >> the basic that's very basic. >> Okay. And that's for next year. >> Okay. >> Put in anything like that >> for what? >> Repairs. >> Yeah. >> We kind of estimate major minor repairs >> for per building. >> Okay. is kind of how we do that. Um did I increased um utilities just a little bit. I'm sure they're going to go up. So I took what we've paid so far, divided it by the months we paid it and then multiplied that times 12 just kind of get an estimate and then bumped it up just show up. Just for clarification, uh 226 possibly for next year. That does not mean we are in dire straits or anything. >> 26 26 >> 266 that any shortfalls come out of
004the general fund. >> How do we make up for that 266? >> So I think we could take um >> um I don't really know. I mean, >> I think we're going to have to sit down and do what we've done probably every year and sit down and go, "Okay, move this, move that." >> Some rent, some rents will bring that down, but um because we can only keep 20,000 in rent. So, um we've taken in I think this year, >> does that include like the Boys and Girls Club, rented the facilities on July 1st? So that'll be >> so that'll be for the next school year. So we can pay utilities out of the extras in that. >> Okay. >> There's some room um in driver's ed. I can take all of Rich's salary
005out of driver's ed. We haven't in the past to build that up >> simply because we weren't sure under Riner was going to offer us the lease that and they've been very generous. So very generous, but we, you know, we can't count on that every year. if we need a car. Um, but I would I can do um salary, his salary, which it's not much. He just works.33 >> student [snorts] supply-wise for classrooms and stuff. We have money to cover almost everything we'll need for that >> In the grants, different grants. So, we don't want to spend that all out in one year one of them. we get the whole amount at once and that goes into the flex fund and that will be a nice thing to have so we don't have to worry
006about if we need workbooks or we need those kind of things we can use that >> things for advance things for CTE we get all that funding coming in we won't know >> is that annually the 10 is that >> 109 is annually >> 22 is one time they're going to see that's a one time for now it's two years >> you don't have to spend it out you don't have to spend it out in two years we get that for a two-year period to >> well so we're going to 322. >> No, we get that one time. It's a two-year grant. So, at the end of the second year, they will look at refund >> and we just spend down. >> They don't. No, there's no requirement to spend it out. >> It's just
007there. >> Okay. >> They want to see how this works doing it like this rather than doing you get this much a year. So, we'll see how it goes over the two years, >> but we have two years to spend. >> Yeah. So, that that money will be a coup. And um [snorts] although there's no requirements on it, we're going to be careful not to abuse that because they've been really good to us. We were one of five districts in the state picked to get that money. So, I want to make sure that if there's another option that we are considered again and um I'll look at bigger grants again. I haven't you know how it is this time of year. I have sit down till summer gets here and start looking at bigger grants
008again. I did apply for a $10,000 tobacco prevention grant which would fund having to send any kids in to do the day of um education at Riverstone. So, it covers that covers the kids that have to be out for a day, that kind those kind of expenses. So there's things that we can plug in that won't come in until next year. So >> and the budget um allotss for lane changes because those come in of course after we get the budget and set all the salaries and so that has a placeholder. So we do budget a little bit for that. So that um it's a placeholder. >> Now we have to have our budget to the county August. >> August. Okay. like the third Friday in August or something. >> I think that's No, it's
009before school. Yeah, it's before school starts. >> Yeah, it's >> I think it's the August board meeting is when we do our finalization. We're going to finalize it. Okay. >> Like I said, I just estimated athletics cuz I haven't got that from Jake since he's sitting down in the >> Thursday. Discuss some ways that we can help that. >> Okay. >> 750,000 budget, >> but that's in there. That's Uh yeah, by just guesstimated >> guesstimated. Okay, >> there's a couple things I'd like to save on. So, um >> to decrease that. >> Is next year our big travel year or is that our not big travel year or was this year a big travel year? >> This year was this year was not. Yeah. >> Okay. Next year is >> depends on how many teams
010make it to state. >> Well, no. There was Isn't there one where we go every other year like Pson or something and play? We go to >> Pson. Yeah, >> we go to the west side a bunch, I think. >> Soccer. Yeah, soccer and softball. >> Yeah, they only traveled like one time for soccer this year. >> And football, too. >> Okay. >> I can't get those straight, >> too. >> Oh, baseball's going to be Yeah. >> Yeah. And they're probably going to have to travel pretty far. >> We just have to really sit down and take a look at that. I guess we've never really just been presented. So, Kelly, >> it's not horrible travel wise this year because for upcoming year for baseball >> For this year, >> but I mean that only
011reason that is because we have more teams in this area like >> Yeah. >> would you cut down our travel? That'd be huge. Worst case scenario, where's our reserves at? >> Our reserves are at 1.1 million. There's um 84,000 in there. That is a major maintenance. Um and so we can do some maintenance stuff from there. um markets came to us with something today and we'll just take it from there too. So that will help but it has to you have to go through and see what we can alleviate the general fund with using that. >> Yeah. >> How are we looking for end of year draw downs and everything going good? >> Don just did uh we just he's been >> all of them are in and >> they've been coming back pretty quick.
012No, >> no. It just Yeah, >> no. >> I called and said, "Hey, can somebody up there just approve the actual amendment to our grant so we can get the cash request in?" Because once they do, they'll say, "Hey, can you move this to 300 and this to 600?" We do that, then it goes pretty quickly. But, um, I've had our title supply one up there. They just they just responded. So, I fixed everything again and she said, "Well, I don't see the changes." And I went I said there's an amendment to approve first because it won't update the budget. So she had to go. So we kind of have to walk them through it because everybody's new in the reading grant. So it's been it's been one of the it's never been fast and
013we're try we tried to get everything done. We have one more big draw down to do for everything in May so we can have it before August. This last year I got here in October. >> Yeah. >> So it's not this it just makes a mess here for Deian. She have to go back into >> you want to close it out >> training wise for that grant draw down. I'd like to be >> do it more often. >> Yeah. I mean it's not hard to do >> because that keeps that >> Yeah. >> in the one it keeps the cash flow just a little a little better. >> OPI loves that. It's just how much you want me to put in all the time. I mean it's easy to do. A lot of places do
014it. >> Yeah. Well, we had a big we just had a conference on her webinar in grants and >> that's what they suggest. >> It keeps it easier for you to balance out by the end of the year, >> right? Because I went through the cash in the rear in the rares. I understand that. But it would be closer and then we would have negative. >> Yep. It would be a lot closer to what the end of the year is going to look like. >> I agree. >> Okay. Other than that, uh everything else as far as busing, um tuition, waiting for big tax payments in May to make those full as far as our revenue. Do we have any other uh assessments that are holdouts or do we not know >> it went back
015that we not do we know of yet? >> Okay. >> You know how it went last time? Surprise. >> The county [sighs and gasps] superintendent of schools. Uh what other hats does he wear? superintendent of schools, >> treasurer, tax assessor, >> everything else. Their software is still down. >> So, they don't know when the tax assessment's going to go out, let alone when our school board ballots are going to go out because we also have to pay for that. >> So, yeah. And we haven't got our trial balance for this month because the software did something in North Dakota. It messed up something there. So, they're still trying to figure out how to get the trial balance done for this month. No idea where we are cash. >> So, >> unless they have this rebuild
016and they can't get their software to >> if if there's an issue with the because ballots are supposed to go out like Friday. I think for the election we have to pay for it obviously >> it has to go out in April so they can pay in May. >> Yeah. >> Oh >> okay. >> So I don't know what happens with that. >> So the ballots and everything are on hold >> the ballots >> for the school board election. >> I don't think the ballots aren't >> I no the trial trial balance for our funding. >> Okay. >> To know who's what kind of taxes have come in. election be >> the election will be on but the >> but won't [laughter] >> the money for it won't be >> anyways um we've tank has
017put together this letter that he is going to put on the back of the second half of the tax bills >> he in conjunction with all the clerks that it pertains to so um that's kind of hopefully going to help us >> even though I may still feel it >> every day I'm gonna Can I read this into the record? [snorts] >> Go ahead. Look behind everyone's tax bill. >> This is what's going to be on the back of your tax bill. Uh statement for second half tax bills. The Montana legislature passed House Bill 231 and Senate Bill 542 on the final day of 2025 session. Both were signed into law May 13th. The resulting tax rate changes caused the department of revenue do issue assessment notices more than a month later than usual. This
018shifted the appeal deadline to one week before the statutory deadline for DOR to certify taxable values. A deadline the legislature did not adjust. As a result, significant changes to taxable values occurred after certification. Many of these changes resulted from taxpayer appeals that were resolved after DOR had already certified values to jurisdictions. The jurisdictions listed above each experience taxable value decreases of more than 1%. To ensure those jurisdictions receive the property tax revenue they budgeted for, they have built additional mills to recover the property tax revenue they were already entitled to, which increases your second half tax obligation because only jurisdictions with taxable value decreases greater than 1% are subject to this adjustment. an additional and excuse me adjustment. And because additional bills are only issued where the amount owed is at least $5, not all
019properties will receive a supplemental statement. A list of jurisdictions rebuilding is available at https www.yson countymt.govtreasure treasurer. Please remember this is bolded. Please remember that the local county department of revenue and school employees did not play a role in these decisions and the work they do is centered on complying with laws passed by legislature. Thank you, Deian. Well, no. My fear next year is that people are going to want a ree valuation of their taxes >> Every year. And we set ours in August. I don't want this to happen again next year where we get a December FYI. Your stuff's going out. >> Applause for sure. Is is there anything on the D the dyke decks centennial? Nothing yet. When does that really heat up or start gaining tractions? >> Legislative session. They do they
020had a committee meeting last week and they asked people to come in and um speak at the meeting. So they had Bob Watson, they had school administrators of Montana, they had they had quite a few people >> from the board of education, >> people from >> they did seem kind of aligned to most of the people that aren't even connected about >> their thoughts on how most of them wanted parts of that campus. to remedy some of the situation. >> But we're looking for we're looking for votes in 27 inflammation on 28. Is that correct? >> As far as I know, it would be for u fiscal year 27 28. >> Okay. >> So, oh yeah, >> they would enact it that fast. So, if they got a law changing the fund, they're going to
021change it. I just don't know how I don't know how and I don't know how they're going to but from that point on too if they said this is how we're going to fund it then it would go to somebody else and say how >> so so the people with the idea are not in the same room with the people with the actual money >> they're not the exact same >> okay >> I think they're talking back and forth with each other and I think I mean like I was pretty that committee here the other day was starting at 10:00 a.m. >> Yeah, it went all day. >> Still not done when I left at 4. Um, but just listening to parts of it, for the most part, I thought everybody was pretty much on
022the same page of some increases, not all of the camps proposal. I don't think anybody else in there had a proposal. >> Okay. >> Um, and obviously I don't think they could do the whole camps. Even if they did some of it, I think they >> even if they amped up the stars part, >> but they're all in alignment too of the money will not come for for more taxation things like that. So >> that's a plus. >> That's the only way I think they're going to get people to vote for it, >> right? >> You know, they get legislators if they came out and said property taxes which we just reduced and and increase these other that are squarely on um homeowners and the general population of people that are tax people. I don't
023think that's going to work and they know that. So, I mean, I think they're going to ask for some of the budget surplus um some different taxes science. So they got the whole fiscal 2627 to work it out and then implementation 2728. >> I I don't think that's what they want. I think they want to try to have that done by the legislative session next year, January. >> Okay. and get it figured out for that fiscal year. >> This is how we change that fiscal year change. >> Then we're just hoping it improves and doesn't get worse. Correct. >> Okay. >> There was no recommended to decrease though. >> Well, it it I mean once it gets in there it's we don't know what's going to happen. I mean, a few of the things they
024talk about, they didn't talk about the whole thing, but they did talk about the quality educator. >> So, yeah, >> the the number that they gave them was 15,000. You know what it is now? >> 12. >> Maybe it's 12. >> 10. >> Let's see. For quality educator, double payment. >> Yeah, >> it's six. It's 37.83. >> Yeah. >> Per It's not very much. >> And then the double. So, it's 6,000. >> So, they want to up that >> quality educator payment. They're they want to do 15,000 per quality educator. >> That'll be a $9,000 increase per person. >> Plus, if you qualify for the stars act, if you are in alignment with decreasing that um >> your base, >> then you get a double payment for each person. So, you go from 15 to
02530,000 >> one time or >> every year? No, >> every year. um that's how they >> every year that you're eligible for it and you're keeping on track of that >> they talk about reducing A&B or what did they >> they did they did talk about doing something different with A&B because enrollments now they don't enrollment but they so that was one the $15,000 quality education the other one was funding at full base instead of 80% base >> and going out so I don't know what how that would be exchanged if we went from 80 funding of 80% to 100%. But then if they took off um and well leveies for we had to go out and get other levies, that's what the exchange is what they want is instead of doing 80% and then
026the district goes out and gets the other 20% in whatever levies are whatever they just say we're going to fund you at 100%. you don't have the options of going out and >> I think they're seeing that because a lot of levies aren't passed anymore. >> Instead of A and B, they want to do just a base per 100 per 150 or K2 if you have this many kids has different tiers. She can >> because right now a school with two schools very different number of kids get the same amount of money >> for the entitlement. So then they would just stick with basement. >> Yeah. >> And not >> Well, this will be fun to watch in the next year. >> They only talked about a couple other things. >> And it was pretty
027basic and everybody was pretty much on the same. >> They're really well. >> At least they had some alignment on it. they were listening to people on Bel was on there and I thought he probably made more sense than anybody. He's polarized guy to he was more factual than anything. Was a committee member talked about a billion dollar that there's been billion dollar increase in educational. >> Yeah, she did. And then the guy said I don't know where that came. I don't know where she got it from. >> I'd like to see if that's something. >> He said, "Yeah, I ran the numbers and he can't figure out where she came up with that." I don't think she shared either, did she? She didn't answer. >> She brought it around, slapped it in his face,
028>> but it didn't. >> He said, "I He looked at it and said, >> "I don't know where you got these numbers." That's what he said. >> Yeah. He said, "I don't know where you got these numbers." And I was like, >> I don't know. I I thought it was good though. I thought it was a pretty good start for them being >> It wasn't hostile. >> Okay. >> It wasn't hostile exchange at all. >> I kind of thought there'd be maybe some push back, but nobody was really saying this is ridiculous. >> It's not a fun wait and see game. No, it's not because it >> can negatively impact us >> because you only get what once every 10 years you get to look at this >> comments about, you know, we were promised
029gambling as he lies that some of that money would come to education. We know that didn't happen. They said the same thing about the marijuana tax. Where's that money going? Because we were promised some of that would. None of that's happening. So, >> they're asking about that stuff, too. >> Okay. >> But there was nobody answering the question. They were just saying, you know, we were promised this and then that never happened. >> Excellent. Uh, anybody, you got anything else? >> And we three will get together again and go over that the where the deficit sits right now and start to work on plug some of those holes. So, it's not going to be probably at that amount, but we'll probably still have some we have to look at. >> I I understand you guys
030are going to look at that. I mean, and throwing a number out like $266,000 and people grasping on that. And I know there's ways that you can move grant money around and things like that to aliviate that. It's at the end of the year. >> Yeah. >> The end just be like we were short X >> and that's what it is. Then you guys have been able to look at it enough. I don't I don't like the old way that we did it where, you know, you start off in a running tally and it's this much and this much and the number changes so much and it gets out to the community and everybody starts talking about it. I'd rather just have one factual number of this is what our budget or our not even
031a would it be a budget shortfall or would it be funding >> over expenditure? >> Yeah. So, I think that's the best way to do it. Then we don't have misinformation out there and people saying that we're x amount short when we're not because we don't even know for sure yet, >> right? >> It's a it's a hard game to play when you're >> and the software does it for us. You know, we put in our budget and then what year to date and then what's encumbered over there is how much they're anticipating based on positions and pay, how many pays are left. Um, and so Anything else that occurs? >> Only thing I can say is I am very happy with the way you've been conducting the business office in the last year and
032I have no complaints from it. >> No, it's been much easier to understand first got here. >> It's been much easier. >> Yeah. >> Is there any big things going out for bid this year? Rebid. Nothing. We have the food service contract, but it's just a renewal of the so every year now we'll do this, but we have to wait till they get their totals today and then Kelly told me she would get those to us and then I will finish the amendment. Diana has a couple things she has to put into the system too for like fresh fruit and vegetables and summer food program. And then that's we'll find out. Also, we'll let the board know what once we haven't sat down and gone over our um community our free and reduced numbers yet
033to see if we qualify or if it'd be better to go K8 free and whatever. So, we have to take a look at that. We got the numbers in there, but we haven't looked yet because it's not going to affect this. >> They weren't any better than our best year. >> Okay. >> Um they're decreasing just a little bit, but free >> and we may have to look at that too, but that's something that we would come to you guys with if that's something that we had to do anyway. Do we have to do that before the end before? >> We'd have to do it before May 30th because it'd have to have it in the contract. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, >> so we'll be able to figure out if we're going to do
034the full excuse me >> K12 or 68 or K8, however it looks. Yeah. And then we would have to decide what pricing would look like for >> the payments. So, we we have to go through that, but I didn't want to panic on that. So, we'll probably now that all the e-grant stuff is in right now then I'll tomorrow I'll start taking a look at that food service the renewal I've got all laid out I just have to go back in and make sure that because nothing's going to change except that commodity pricing index thing that they have to do but we have to then look at if we need to change the community eligibility and pricing if that's the case then we would work with Kelly who she said yeah she said we can
035sit down and work on so that might change a little bit but it's not something we did It's on numbers. It's nothing that we determine. >> How what what determines what buildings would get that I guess is that the >> if you're at 40% or above, you can apply for it. Okay. >> And that that is dropping. >> Okay. >> And so we always struggled to get middle school and then high school in that number, but it was enough >> this last round that we qualified for all of it knowing that it was going to cost us. And now the cost is not beneficial to the program. >> Okay. >> It's costing the district quite a bit to keep it going because not everybody's qualifying. So they're getting we'll just have to look at it.
036You know, it's it's not anything anybody did maliciously, but we have to look at it and say, "Okay, >> we knew that too. It was going to dwindle down just a little bit because it it does cost the district." >> Yeah. And Chartwells has done as much as they can to help with that. They've been very very transparent in their discussions with us which has been helpful. So but it's just something we have to look at and say okay we can't continue to sustain this because we have to have a food service. So >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> So we get free for a certain we reimbursement for the percentage the 64.37%. And then the rest of it they gave us 90 cents. >> Yeah. That was said when that first came out. Don't know
037how long we can sustain. >> 46% of 46% of the meals were getting 90 cents back for >> Wow. >> So that's it's just not costefficient. I mean, >> so >> those are things that we probably have to >> breakfast too. They they uh reimburse less on breakfast than what um we're being charged. So that's >> Yeah. So Peter tires is a fixed rate. So >> okay, I guess I'll wait to hear about that. >> Get a search charge for anything over >> for diesel. >> Oh boy. >> What percentage? >> I gota ask her. >> Okay. It's been over 374 for how long now? >> Yeah. >> Was it ever at 374? I don't know. There's always been a search charge on that bill. It's just something >> incorporated. >> Oh, and transportation goes
038up 12% next year. >> Is that >> Oh, no. >> 10% 12. >> Just 10. >> It's going down 12. >> It's 10% next year. >> And that's our that's on a separate budget. So that that's not >> that's our own and that's per that's permissive. >> Yeah. Which permissive is the nonvoted levy that we got? >> No, we got one more. >> It was 1210. >> No, it was a four-year contract. >> I thought everyone went to three. >> No, four. >> I think was four, but I think other people did go to three. So, >> we all ended at the same time. We went four to match everybody else >> with millions and then everybody else did a three >> and when we did a three and a four they charge us more.
039>> It's only 10 though. It's only 12. It's only 10. >> 12. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's good. Great. 2%. >> I see. Are you guys still in talks with the building administrators on budgets and on what tightening budgets? Yeah. How are those going? >> Well, we're definitely going to have to make some decisions on what supply line items look like, what the building level, that stuff. And we'll have a better idea here as we get next. We don't know what we're getting in title. We don't know we're getting in special ed yet. So, we do special ed. We do know title we haven't gotten yet. So once that comes in, then we can look at what we know we have and then say, okay, we'll probably have to change some of the ways purchasing goes
040just so there's a little bit more control at the district level so we can make sure there's not any surprises. So I mean there's going to be some changes in that at least for next year so that we can keep our thumb on it. >> Personnel wise though, there are some good luck seeing reservations program. >> So there'll be some savings there. >> Before the end of the year, we only have one group to negotiate with Paris. Correct. >> Yeah. >> Paris are the last one >> and then next year it is >> certified again. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Thank you everybody. Thank you Deian. Thank you for all of this.