The Suttons Bay Public School Board of Education (BOE) unanimously approved its proposed 2024-25 general fund budget of $9,360,295 at its budget hearing Monday evening. The budget for the new fiscal year will go into effect starting on July 1.
Lisa Hankins, Suttons Bay new business manager/accountant from Northwest Education Services, presented the budget, noting that overall revenues for the district increased by 4.79%. The boost in revenues is due to increased property tax values (which increased by 11.6% in 2024), updated funding from the state, as well as an increase in federal Impact Aid. Local revenues saw an increase of 8.38% going from $4,534,438 in the 20232024 school year to $4,914,587 for the upcoming 2024-25 year. Federal revenues saw a decrease of 14.85% from $1,066,706 to $908,278.
Overall expenditures increased by 3.94%, with Hankins making note to the board of the restructuring of staff to meet needs and continuing maintenance and operations needs.
Total supporting services went up from $4,464,560 to $4,618,152, with some of the largest increases seen in categories like pupil support services, which went from $276,049 to $411,909, and school admin support services going from $735,564 to $757,946. Central support services also saw a significant increase of 8.40% from $679,862 in the previous year to $736,937 in the 2024-25 year, and includes updating salaries and benefits per negotiated contracts. Approximately $4,526,973 in total instruction expenditures, which includes basic programs and added needs, was also approved. In addition, the district highlighted details like the hiring of special education and classroom interventionists for K-12 students, and At-Will employees and administrators contracts seeing an increase in wages by 2.25% in the new budget.
Suttons Bay projected ending fund balance is $1,550,462, which is an increase from the previous academic year’s balance of $1,484,049. The budget is based on 18 mills property taxes to be levied on the taxable value nonhomestead and non-qualified agricultural property.
In other business, the board approved: • Merit pay of $100 for all professional staff with at least a minimally effective educator rating pursuant to school code.
• A teacher stipend in the amount of $6,500 to eligible teachers for work completed through “Better Lesson” training during the 2023-24 school year.
• A resolution to approve the superintendent’s annual evaluation rating as highly effective for the 2023-24 school year.
