Budget Hearing Minutes August 17, 2026 – 6:15 p.m.
School Board President Brian Schneider called the hearing to order at 6:15 p.m. and Board Clerk Dawn Van Aacken read the meeting notice.
Business Services Assistant Superintendent Amy Holley shared a slide presentation highlighting the preliminary budget for the 2026-27 school year. Information included is as follows:
Operational Revenues by Source (Fund 10/27)
| Tax Levy | $39,187,533 |
| Other Local | $10,164,927 |
| Interdistrict/Intermediate | $1,369,130 |
| State | $43,623,269 |
| Federal | $1,692,739 |
| TOTAL | $96,037,598 |
Operational Expenses by Object (Fund 10/27)
| Salaries | $40,777,938 |
| Benefits | $25,603,388 |
| Purchased Services | $17,303,165 |
| Non-Capital Objects | $1,868,195 |
| Capital Objects | $127,000 |
| Debt Retirement | $208,997 |
| Insurance | $535,000 |
| Other Objects | $198,744 |
| TOTAL | $94,355,354 |
Ms. Holley presented slides which included the following topics: the budget process, student count history and estimate, property valuation, state general aid estimate, revenue limit, tax levy and mill rate and an update on summer referendum projects.
The budget meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
Annual Meeting Minutes August 17, 2026 – Following Budget Hearing
School Board President Brian Schneider called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
President Schneider introduced the Board members.
Motion by Ray Jones seconded by Mary Bauer, resolved to approve the agenda. Voice vote on agenda. Motion carried.
Dawn Van Aacken read the official meeting notice publication.
Motion by Bauer, seconded by Jones, to nominate Patti Mitchell to serve as chairperson of the Annual Meeting. (There were no other nominations). Voice vote on nomination of chairperson. Motion carried.
Superintendent Paul Mielke presented the “Year in Review.”
Patti Mitchell read the voter eligibility rules – must be 18 years of age and a resident of the Hamilton School District for at least 28 days prior to the meeting.
RESOLUTION A: Approval to Lease District Property for Farming Purposes
Motion by Bauer, seconded by Jones, resolved that the school board is hereby authorized, as provided by Hamilton School District Board Policy 656, to negotiate and execute a lease of district property for farming purposes effective for the 2027 growing season: approximately 55 acres on Clover Lane and Hwy. VV; and approximately 38 acres on Plainview Road. Show of hands vote on Resolution A. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION B: Adoption of Tax Levy
Motion by John Peterson, seconded by Cathy Drago, resolved that a tax for the operation and maintenance of the schools in the amount of $39,187,533, a tax for debt retirement in the amount of $4,736,144, a tax for chargebacks in the amount of $0, and tax for community services fund of $198,777 for a total of *$44,122,454, be levied upon the taxable property of the district for the 2026-27. Show of hands vote on Resolution B. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION C: Salaries of School Board Members
Motion by Jones, seconded by Brown, resolved to approve the annual salary rate of $5,550 for Hamilton School District Board of Education members for the 2026-27 school year. Show of hands vote on Resolution C. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION D: Reimbursement of Board Members’ Expense
Motion by Bauer, seconded by Jones, resolved that payment be authorized for actual and necessary expenses and for actual loss of earnings for School Board members when such expenses are incurred in the performance of their duties. Show of hands vote on Resolution D. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION E: Board Authority to Establish Date and Time for Annual Meeting
Motion by Jones, seconded by Brown, resolved that the 2027 Annual Meeting will be at a time and on a date selected by the School Board. Show of hands vote on Resolution E. Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Brown, seconded by Jones, resolved to adjourn the meeting. Voice vote on motion to adjourn. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.