RIVER FALLS — The River Falls School Board held its annual budget meeting Sept. 22, discussing what went into a levy increase and mill rate decrease. Director of Finance Lynette Coy detailed the 2025-26 school year proposed budget at the meeting.

Some of the funding variables are still coming in as student enrollment is tabulated at the beginning of the academic year. Property values and certified state aid are two other factors Coy listed, saying all three will come in during October, so the district uses estimates at the annual meeting.

When the numbers are finalized, the official budget can be approved at the Oct. 27 school board meeting.

Local tax revenues are expected to see an increase of $2.1 million to about $19.8 million. Coy said $1 million of that comes from the second year of the operating referendum from 2024, and the remaining is due to an increase in per pupil revenue limit passed in the 2025-27 state budget.

“For River Falls, historically, any time that there’s a per pupil revenue limit increase, that is shared by an increase in state aid and tax levy,” Coy said. “However, with the state budget passage this year, there was no increase in the pot of state aid money, and so therefore, that revenue limit increase becomes entirely tax levy.”

General state aid is expected to increase by just over $100,000 to about $22 million. The total revenue is budgeted for $48.2 million, up from $46.4 million from last year’s unaudited total. Budgeted total expenditures match the revenues, signifying a presented balanced budget.

Increasing expenditures include an increase in business administration from $7.8 million to $8.7 million and a $240,000 increased cost for instructional service payments, which includes students open enrolling out of the district, to $2.26 million.

As has been discussed at school board meetings throughout the state, Coy outlined an increase in special education reimbursement from the state. The reimbursement goal was increased to 42% from around 33%. Coy said it is a set pot of money, so the actual number has sat around 30-31% reimbursement in the past and may not entirely live up to the 42%. Reimbursement is budgeted to increase from $1.87 million to $2.66 million.

End of year total indebtedness is budgeted to decrease to $61.8 million at the end of the year. The total was at $73.5 million at the end of the 2023-24 year.

The proposed levy is $27,081,524, up from $25,763,793 a year ago, aligning with the per pupil revenue limit increase. The mill rate, however, is expected to decrease from 7.00 to 6.87, a number that has been consistently trimmed from its 10.24 number in 2015-26.

“This is one of those things that is likely to change as those last key variables start to come in,” Coy said.

Resident Barry Danielson was the lone non-board member to make public comment on the budget, asking for the district to further break down the numbers on future reports. He said Hudson displays hundreds of pages into what the exact revenues and expenses are, and he would like to see that in River Falls. Danielson was cut off after his two minutes ran out and was asked to give up the microphone.

Board President Stacy Johnson-Myers said Danielson has received requested information from hundreds of public records requests.

“The board takes allegations regarding potential financial mismanagement very seriously. The board and administration have carefully reviewed his concerns which started over a year ago,” Johnson-Myers said. “The district determined that it has complied with the law at every step.”

Johnson-Myers said they have had conversations with legal counsel, bond counsel, financial advisors, auditors and the Wisconsin DPI, who she said all confirmed the district has complied with the law.

“Responding to Mr. Danielson’s requests and complaints has required significant use of district resources in terms of employee and board member time as well as direct costs including legal fees,” Johnson-Myers said. “His communications no longer serve a legitimate purpose because his complaints have been determined not to have merit.”

State of the District

Superintendent David Bell delivered the State of the District report, giving a progress update on goals of the past, present and future. The 2022-27 Strategic Plan breaks down eight core values, five broad goals and 34 subgoals. The broad goals are to hold high expectations for student learning; provide a safe, healthy and welcoming environment; attract, retain and develop high quality staff; provide life readiness skills; and uphold operational excellence.

“We want to keep track, and therefore we keep a compelling scoreboard,” Bell said of monitoring the goals. “We do that to share widely, not for blame, not for shame, but to celebrate our successes and to identify areas where we can continue to grow.”

Bell went on to outline programs including support systems, college credit and course options and activities/clubs that help students feel more connected in the school.

“I’ve chosen to highlight the commitment to finding diverse opportunities to ensure that all students have the ability to connect with something that interests them,” Bell said. “Our students are remarkable, and we’re thankful for partnering with families in these endeavors.”

Bell unveiled statistics including 165 course offerings, 124 students enrolled in the Dual Academic Credit Program and 49 students participating in CVTC academies or associate degree programs at the high school and an 88% co-curricular participation at Meyer Middle School.

He also touched on referendum construction, with an open house from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 4 at the high school as well as the transportation center. The remaining work at the transportation center and high school multi-purpose area is expected to be complete in October.

“You just heard, really what’s at the heart of what we do: our goals, our missions, our values and our priorities,” Coy said. “The budget is really what supports that, because how well we allocate our resources directly impacts the educational services that we can provide to students.”