The Marion Center Area School Board met last night and approved the district’s budget for the 2025-26 school year, which includes a property tax increase.
The board adopted a $30.25 million spending plan, which carries a 5.54 percent tax hike, the same increase that was implemented in last year’s budget. According to Superintendent Clint Weimer, the primary driver of the increase is the rising cost of tuition payments to cyber charter schools, which are projected to cost the district approximately $1.2 million.
Weimer noted that although the district continues to work to control costs and operate efficiently, mandated payments to outside cyber charter institutions remain a significant budgetary challenge.
In addition to approving the budget, the board also took action on staffing matters. Members approved the hiring of a new special education teacher and a secondary agricultural education teacher to support ongoing curriculum needs and student services.
The next regular meeting of the Marion Center School Board is scheduled for July.
