Norwin school board to consider maximum allowed tax hike under state index

Norwin school board members will vote later this month on a preliminary 2025-26 district budget that could include a 4.67-mill tax hike.

At the board’s non-voting meeting Monday night, President Bill Bojalad requested that finance director Ryan Kirsch prepare a version of the new budget that includes the tax hike, which is the maximum allowed under the state’s Act I index. In January, board members voted to cap any tax hike at that figure.

The board raised taxes by 5.83 mills in the current school year, part of its work to close a $7.8 million budget deficit. The proposed tax hike for next year would bring in about $2 million.

That will not be enough to close the $4.18 million gap in the proposed budget, which lays out $95.44 million in spending, with $91.26 million in revenue.

Board member Christine Baverso said board members are looking at ways to reduce the deficit.

“I voted for the recent improvements, but I’m also on the fundraising committee, and we’ve been having conversations with potential sponsors and looking for ways to offset some of those costs,” she said.

Bojalad stressed that the board is only voting on a proposed final budget, with the full adoption in June.

“The goal always is to set a budget, and then be as diligent as you can to save money,” he said. “And keep in mind, we still don’t have the (state) budget numbers yet.”

The board’s monthly voting meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 19.

Next month, there will be a combined workshop and voting meeting on June 9.