Budget Hearing Minutes August 18, 2025 – 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 2025-26 school year. Information included is as follows:
Operational Revenues by Source (Fund 10/27)
| Tax Levy | $37,037,361 |
| Other Local | $1,716,000 |
| Interdistrict/Intermediate | $1,166,944 |
| State | $42,928,173 |
| Federal | $1,445,000 |
| TOTAL | $84,293,478 |
Operational Expenses by Object (Fund 10/27)
| Salaries | $38,834,821 |
| Benefits | $22,986,817 |
| Purchased Services | $15,811,554 |
| Non-Capital Objects | $2,806,349 |
| Capital Objects | $316,215 |
| Debt Retirement | $161,122 |
| Insurance | $631,765 |
| Other Objects | $203,238 |
| TOTAL | $81,751,881 |
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. Ms. Holley also presented an update on the referendum projects.
The budget meeting was adjourned at 6:33 p.m.
Annual Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 – Following Budget Hearing
School Board President Brian Schneider called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.
President Schneider introduced the Board members.
Motion by Katie Streblow, seconded by Tom Lodzinski, resolved to approve the agenda. Voice vote on agenda. Motion carried.
Dawn Van Aacken read the official meeting notice publication.
Motion by Matt Brown, seconded by Patti Mitchell, to nominate Jay Jones 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.”
Jay Jones 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 Cathy Drago, seconded by John Peterson, 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 2026 growing season: approximately 55 acres on Clover Lane and Hwy. VV; and approximately 38 acres on Plainview Road. Ray Jones moved to call the question. Motion to call the question carried. Show of hands vote on Resolution A. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION B: Adoption of Tax Levy
Motion by Matt Brown, seconded by Patti Mitchell, resolved that a tax for the operation and maintenance of the schools in the amount of $37,037,361, a tax for debt retirement in the amount of $5,259,643, a tax for chargebacks in the amount of $0, and tax for community services fund of $185,728 for a total of *$42,482,732, be levied upon the taxable property of the district for the 2025-26. Ray Jones moved to call the question. Motion to call the question carried. Show of hands vote on Resolution B. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION C: Salaries of School Board Members
Motion by Mitchell, seconded by Chris Horn resolved to approve the annual salary rate of $5,500 for Hamilton School District Board of Education members for the 2025-26 school year. Ray Jones moved to call the question. Motion to call the question carried. Show of hands vote on Resolution C. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION D: Reimbursement of Board Members’ Expense
Motion by Peterson, seconded by Drago, 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. Ray Jones moved to call the question. Motion to call the question carried. Show of hands vote on Resolution D. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION E: Board Authority to Establish Date and Time for Annual Meeting
Motion by Dominic Bauer, seconded by Brown, resolved that the 2026 Annual Meeting will be at a time and on a date selected by the School Board. Ray Jones moved to call the question. Motion to call the question carried. Show of hands vote on Resolution E. Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Brown, seconded by Tom Lodzinski, resolved to adjourn the meeting. Voice vote on motion to adjourn. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:03 p.m.