In a split vote Oct. 25, the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees approved the district’s 2024 budget totaling $300.6 million.
The vote to approve was 5-2, with members Tiffany Pascoe and Suzanne Thomas dissenting. Pascoe listed her objections to the budget, which included spending for mental health and wellness and DEI — which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Pascoe asked whether the board still had time to make changes. Chief Financial Officer Katy Dowling responded that if the budget were not adopted during that meeting, the district’s spending plan would revert to the budget that was approved in 2022, “which would be catastrophic for us.”
Before casting her “no” vote, Thomas said she supports the district’s budget 100 percent. However, she said she was concerned that there was no confirmation of additional compensation for support staff.
The budget total announced earlier was $296 million. Dowling said the updated $300.6 million total is a “not-to-exceed” amount that includes transfers between funds and some updated estimates.
The budget total includes about $24 million from an operating referendum that will be on the ballot Nov. 7 for voter approval. The referendum calls for a reduced rate of up to .1995 cents per $100 assessed value, providing annual school funding of an estimated $24 million. The current referendum, approved by voters in 2016, expires at the end of the year. Through the 2016 referendum, property owners have paid .2275 cents per $100 assessed value.
Dowling told the board that while the maximum rate of the referendum levy is .1995, the 2024 district budget has reduced what would be collected to .1895 cents per $100 assessed value.
Also, during the meeting, the board heard a report from HSE Director of Transportation Zach McKinney about the district’s busing program. He said there are 318 buses in the fleet and 267 drivers. The district manages 2,487 routes for its more than 21,000 students.
The next HSE Board of Trustees regular meeting is 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the district’s central office at 13485 Cumberland Rd.
An executive session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 8 to receive information about and interview prospective employees, and for board member training, according to the executive session agenda.
