The Highland School District has proposed a budget of $52,476,480 for the 2023-24 school year, which is an increase of $3.4million, or 7.10%, from the current school year. Revenues and expenses are expected to be equal for next year.

The tax levy, which is the amount collected from the public, will be $31,914,042 and is an increase of 1,277,290, or 4.17% from the current school year.

The district broke down the budget into three categories; Administrative costs at $4,980,775 representing 9% of the overall budget; Programs for $40,149,319 comprising 77% of the budget and the Capital layout at $7,346,386, or 14% of the budget.

During budget planning for next year the district calculated expenses of $4,886,240 for General Support, which is up by $23,710 from the current school year; $26,035,296 for instruction, up by $1,467,489; Transportation at $1,847,306, up by $112,737 and Undistributed at $19,704,138, up by $1,873,963 for a total of $3,477,899.

The expense of payroll stands at $22,251,317 and Benefits at $15,989,661 for a total of $38,240,978, equaling 72.87% of the entire school budget.

The budget to budget revenue adjustments from this year to 2023-24 shows that State Aid will be $18,561,269, which is an increase of $2,366,535; Payments in Lieu of Taxes [PILOT] for a number of projects is up by $7,184; there is a decrease in Other Revenue Sources by $173,110 and Federal Medicaid Aid will remain the same at $150,000.

The district estimated the tax impact of their 2023-24 budget to the public; a home assessed at $100,000 will pay $101.36 more annually from the current school year; a home assessed at $200,000 will pay $202.71; a $300,000 assessed home will pay $304.07 more and a $400,000 assessed home will pay $405.43 more than the current school year. The district stressed that these numbers are estimates and were arrived at by using the 2022-23 equalization rates.

The public vote on the 2023-24 budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16 in the high school band room D-10, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition, the public will also be voting to whether to purchase two school buses at a cost not to exceed $266,756.