The new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, Tim Brown, presented a timeline for putting together the 2025 school district budget Wednesday.  However, there were several comments by the public before his presentation.

During the public comment period, which is held at the beginning of the meeting, several speakers criticized the budget timeline’s last entry – “Pass resolution establishing the monthly transfer amounts from Education Fund to Operations Fund.”  They argued this could be a method for the district to claim poverty when contract negotiations with the local teachers union, the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association,  begin in mid-September.  Teachers compensation can only be paid from the Education Fund.

Brown told the board transfers from the Education Fund to the Operations Fund has happened before and is “standard practice.”

Brown’s timeline calls for the first high-level overview of the budget to be presented to the school board Finance Committee September 10.  On September 25, Brown will provide preliminary budget recommendations to the board in a work session.  A public hearing will be held on the spending plan October 9, with a final board vote on the 2025 district budget set for October 23.