Tonight, the Fort Wayne Community Schools Board of School Trustees reviewed the proposed 2025 budget which is projected to include a slight increase, however, the anticipated tax rate is expected to go down.
News release from Fort Wayne Community Schools:
Tax rate drops slightly in FWCS 2025 Budget
Fort Wayne, Indiana (September 9, 2024) – The Fort Wayne Community Schools Board of School Trustees on Monday, Sept. 9, reviewed the proposed 2025 budget. While the budget is projected to include a slight increase, the anticipated tax rate is expected to go down.
The Education Fund shows an increase of 2.9 percent. Much of this increase will pay for textbooks, taking that burden away from families. These funds will also pay for teacher and staff salary increases. The Operations Fund is estimated to increase 4 percent, an amount recently capped by the Indiana legislature. This increase is driven by higher health insurance costs, utility bills and other expenses.
Initiatives funded by the safety and well-being referendum will continue in 2025. Initial expenditures include adding weapons detection systems to all schools, hiring Student Advocates and licensed therapists, expanding the Alive Peacemaker program to all 5 high schools, increasing the security department and upgrading safety systems.
Other highlights of the proposed 2025 budget include:
- The FWCS Transportation Department will purchase more 14-passenger buses that do not require a driver to possess a CDL.
- Enrollment at Fort Wayne Community Schools is on track to see an increase this year with a current unofficial student enrollment of 28,695, an increase of 142 students over last year’s official enrollment. This year’s official enrollment date is Oct. 1.
The budget will be available on the Indiana Gateway portal Tuesday, Sept. 10. A public hearing on the proposed 2025 budget will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in the Grile Administrative Center, 1200 S. Clinton St. Board members will vote on the plan at the Oct. 28 Board meeting.
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