WHITEHALL, MI — June 16, 2025
At Monday night’s meeting, the Whitehall District Schools Board of Education held its required public hearing to review and adopt the 2025-26 fiscal year budget ahead of the July 1 deadline. The presentation detailed projections for revenue, expenses, and key funding sources affecting the district in the year ahead.
Key Highlights from the Budget Hearing
Taxable Value and Operating Millage:
- Whitehall’s non-exempt taxable value increased by 5.94%, outpacing the 3% inflation rate.
- Due to the Headlee rollback, the 2025-26 operating millage will be 17.0249 mills—short of the full 18 mills—resulting in a $121,000 loss in potential revenue.
- The newly passed operating millage will take effect in the 2026 tax year, helping to restore funding in future budgets.
Revenue Overview:
- Projected student enrollment is down by 17 students, impacting per-pupil funding.
- The district is using Governor Whitmer’s proposed foundation allowance of $10,000 per student, a $392 increase.
- Significant decreases include:
- $767,000 drop in federal revenue (mainly ESSER-related funds ending)
- $300,000 decrease in local revenue
- State revenue saw a slight increase of $180,000.
Expense Highlights:
- Teacher salary scale and step increases added $643,000 to expenses.
- The district saved $368,000 from retirements but spent $190,000 on replacements.
- Health insurance costs are projected to rise by 5%.
- Capital spending was reduced, and bus purchases were scaled back.
Overall Budget Impact:
- The district anticipates a $335,710 deficit, leaving a fund balance of $5.54 million or 18.44% of expenses.
Fund Updates
- Community Education: Operating a projected $119,000 deficit, with a tuition increase planned to offset added costs from new classrooms at Lighthouse Learning Center.
- Food Service: Continuing the Community Eligibility Program for free meals; fund balance expected to remain positive.
- Tech & Security Fund: Budgeted to spend down reserves slightly to complete the phone system project.
- Activity Fund: Positive balances across all categories with a projected surplus of $12,000.
Community and Board Discussion
Public comment during the budget hearing and regular meeting praised board transparency and responsiveness to past concerns. A speaker thanked the board for creating additional opportunities for public input and addressed a previously unresolved classroom concern, asking for corrective actions.
Board members later approved the 2025-26 General Appropriations Act unanimously. Superintendent CJ VanWieren received an “Effective” rating—the highest rating possible—from the board for the 2024-25 school year, citing his openness, responsiveness, and progress on district goals.
Additional Updates
- The district is transitioning custodial services to West Michigan Janitorial, a local provider, starting July 1.
- Summer school programs have begun, and numerous student camps—athletic and academic—are underway.
- Major summer projects include network upgrades, new phones, and general maintenance.
Final Notes
Board Treasurer James TenBrink updated the board on the Finance Committee’s recent review of the budget and audit preparations. He noted that most Muskegon County districts are passing deficit budgets due to state-level funding uncertainties and praised the district’s conservative approach.
Whitehall District Schools Board Meeting Recap – May 19, 2025
