The Parkland School District Board of School Directors granted final approval to the $248,755,101 general fund budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year at the June 17 meeting.

With revenues listed as $236,936,262, the shortfall will be covered with a 4% increase in property taxes along with an appropriation of $5,507,303 from the district’s fund balance.

The rate of taxation will increase from 17.12 mills in the 2024-2025 budget to 17.80 mills in the new financial plan.

The owner of a property at the district’s average residential assessed value of $245,193 will pay $4,366 in taxes in 2025-2026, a $168 increase over the previous year.

Board members board President Rob Cohen, Carol Facchiano, David Hein, Chris Pirrotta, Jay Rohatgi, Lisa Roth, Annette Wilcox and Marisa Ziegler voted in favor of the budget.

Although David Ellowitch was not present and could not vote, he sent a message to the board expressing his thoughts on the final document. Cohen read Ellowitch’s communication aloud.

“The administration and board worked diligently over the past year. I am proud of the work our team has done. I stand firmly behind the administration team’s effort,” Ellowitch said.

Roth expressed her comments on the budget.

“The administration is constantly looking at ways to trim,” Roth said.

Cohen said the final document resulted in an effort to do the best for students while also respecting the residents who will have to pay for it.

“Our community is chipping into this so 10,000 students can meet the challenges they will have in their future,” Cohen said. “The budget shows we’re willing to pay our teachers a fair wage and it shows we have facilities our students can take pride in and can learn in,” Cohen said. He offered gratitude to the superintendent for his leadership in the budget preparation.

“Dr. Madson provides expertise so we can make wise decisions,” Cohen said.

Director of Business Administration Leslie Frisbie said the top cost increases over the previous year are wages and benefits, state retirement obligations, out of district placements, cyber/charter school tuition and debt service.

She noted 74% of the budget is directed toward salaries and benefits which increased $9 million over the previous term.

Debt service in the 2025-2026 budget will be $10,200,000, including $1.5 million added for the new term.

The district expects to pay $9 million to cyber/charter schools in 2025-2026, a $500,000 increase over the previous year.