The Mehlville School District Board of Education unanimously approved the budget for the 2024-2025 school year (fiscal year 2025) at its June 6 meeting. The operating budget for fiscal year 2025 is break-even.
"Our budget reflects a continued focus on fiscal responsibility," said Dr. Jeff Haug, Superintendent of Schools. “The budget ensures we fulfill the community's desire to provide teachers and staff with competitive salaries as promised in Prop E. The budget also includes funds for necessary maintenance within our schools."
The fiscal year 2025 budget can be viewed in its entirety here. Expenses amount to $174.5 million, and include the following highlights.
- An increase of $3.5 million for salaries and compensation for all employees, ensuring Mehlville School District is competitive with area districts.
- Critical infrastructure repairs, including $6 million allocated to replace aging HVAC equipment. This is part of a multi-year $33.5 million funding plan to replace HVAC without incurring debt, saving the district $12 million in interest expense.
- Continued construction of school security entrances as promised through Prop S.
Additionally, the budget forecasts a healthy cash reserve balance of 32.1 percent. The cash reserve is calculated by dividing the operating fund end of year cash balance (as of June 30) by the annual operating expense of that same year. The district’s lowest point of cash balances is early December when cash balances in past years have ranged from 3 to 10 percent until county tax revenue is received. Proper cash reserves help the district weather unforeseen expenses or revenue shortages.
The fiscal year 2025 budget, like all school district budgets, is based on several estimates and assumptions. For example, local and state tax revenue will not be finalized until the fiscal year has started. Much uncertainty surrounds a real estate tax freeze, which could impact the 2025-2026 school year.
While the community has supported wise investments in its schools, Mehlville School District is maintaining its reputation as a fiscally conservative district. As of the fall of 2023, the Mehlville School District has the 18th lowest tax rate of 22 St. Louis County school districts. one of the lowest tax rates in the county. The district ranks last in the county in outstanding debt expense per student.