No tax increase expected at Highlands

New tennis courts and a revamped track are among the projects in the tentative Highlands School District budget, but the $1 million worth of work isn’t expected to cause a tax increase.

The proposed $53 million spending plan would maintain the property tax rate at 25.13 mills.

If approved, the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 again will pay $2,513.

A final vote is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 17.

Paul Paradise, director of business affairs, said the district expects to collect about $22 million in local revenue in 2024-25, up from $21.3 in 2023-24 — but down from $23.2 million in 2022-23.

Revenue in this year’s budget is projected to exceed what was expected by $3.1 million, he said. It’s largely because of interest income, federal covid relief funds, though that program expires this year, and a higher basic education subsidy from the state.

For expenses, Paradise said salaries and benefits will comprise 63% of the budget, or about $33.5 million.

Other areas where expenses will be felt are tuition to other entities such as cyber schools, transportation, supplies and technology leases, Paradise said.

The district is expected to use about $1.7 million of its fund balance.

There are nearly $1.3 million in capital projects planned, including the tennis courts and track, both of which sit behind the middle school.

“Both are really bad,” Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said. “These are things that we’ve pushed back, and now they are on their last legs. I don’t even know how they play tennis on the courts.”

Other projects eyed for next year include a library carpet and auxiliary gym floor at Highlands Elementary for a combined $36,000, a refinished gym floor at the middle school for $30,000 and new strength equipment at the high school fitness center for nearly $90,000. The high school also will get a family consumer science classroom for $30,000, and there will be directional signs erected across the district for $100,000.