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NILES — Brandywine Board of Education members got a first look at the district’s 2025-26 budget at their meeting Monday night. Board members will vote on the new budget at their June 23 meeting ahead of the new fiscal year which begins July 1.

      Assistant Superintendent Ray Wilburn presented information about the new budget as well as the third and final budget amendment of the current 2024-25 year. The board last amended this year’s budget in March and will approve this final budget amendment as well as the new budget at the June 23 meeting.

      Wilburn first talked about this year’s final budget amendment before going on to talk about the proposed new budget.

      He noted that this final budget amendment offers a more complete view of the district’s finances as more information is available about revenue sources and employee expenses.

      He said this final general fund budget amendment has revenue set at $18.711 million and expenditures at $18.54 million for a surplus of $171,000. Both revenue and expenditures rose from the second amendment approved in March where a deficit of $197,000 was projected.

      He told board members that if numbers stay the same in the last two weeks of the fiscal year, the fund balance will be $4.2 million at the end of June which represents 22.67 percent of general fund expenditures. That fund balance level would allow the district to operate two and a half months without any revenue coming in.

      Welburn noted that the board has set a goal of the district having a fund balance of at least 15 percent of expenditures. He said the district administration strives to have that percentage level at 20 percent or more.

      With the new budget, he said made a couple of assumptions on the revenue side. He said he is budgeting for no increase in the state per pupil foundation allowance and a drop in other state funding. “We’re planning for a five percent drop in state fund,” he said. “There’s no guarantee of anything. We’re being negative but not doomsday.”

      Superintendent Travis Walker told board members that there’s been no consensus in Lansing on what state aid will look like in the new state budget. He noted that last year there was talk of per pupil increases of as much as $320 and districts ended up seeing no increase.

      Walker said the talk this year is that the legislature will increase the per pupil state foundation grant from the current $9,608 to $10,000 while cutting some other state funding for schools. Some are even proposing an increase in the per pupil foundation grant to $12,000, he said.

“That would bring in another $3 million to the district, but they’re also talking about cutting all categorical funding,” he said. “Cuts to the at risk categorical would amount to $1.5 million alone … Any kind of proposed increase will come with a cut somewhere.”

With all that said, Wilburn unveiled the proposed 2025-26 general fund budget. He has set revenue at $17,881,420 and expenditures at $18,679,120 for a deficit of $797,700. He noted that he included no raises for staff and a five percent “haircut” in state funding in the new budget.

If those numbers hold up through the 2025-26 year, the district would end the year with a fund balance of $3.4 million which represents 18.23 percent of fund equity. “That’s lower than we would like but it’s still healthy,” he said.

Besides the discussion of the budget amendment and new budget, board members heard reports from Middle/High School Principal Evan Winkler and Technology Director Cody Ostrander. Both reported on end of the year activities as well as plans for the coming year.

Action at Monday’s meeting included setting the out of state tuition rate at the state foundation grant level which is now $9,608. Board members also approved a new payroll collaborative with Bridgman schools.

Action expected at the June 23 meeting besides approving the budget amendment and new budget include setting the tax millage rate and renewing memberships in the Michigan High School Athletic Association and the Michigan Association of School Boards.