The Warren County School District will be moving forward on the 2024-25 budget sans goal setting sessions.

The streamlined process is attributed to the pending retirement of Superintendent Amy Stewart in March and the recent arrival of a majority of new board members following the November election.

Normally, the district spends the early part of the year working out goals and refining the budget based on a preliminary “rough cut.” This year, the process will be handled based on existing goals and board budget workshops with updated projections of revenues and expenditures will be held starting in late February.

Based on those workshops, the superintendent is projected to present a proposed budget to board committees in late April and committees are projected to pass on a final proposed budget to the full board in May.

The board must pass a final budget by the end of June.

During a special meeting Monday, the board handled a number of other matters, including:

Approving letters of engagement with Knox Law for tax assessment appeals cases with Aldi, Lowes, Whirley Industries and Ellwood Realty Acquisition. The agreements note that the district’s portion of legal fees is set at the percentage of property tax it assesses, as are other taxing bodies jointly represented by the firm, such as the county.

The board also approved a consent and waiver of conflict of interest agreement with Knox for the Whirley appeal, as the firm represents the company in other matters. It was noted the district does not directly intervene in appeals under $500,000.

Approving purchase and license terms for a previously approved agreement with Acellus Education utilizing a Roger Billing Rescue Grant.

Approving Powerschool license and subscription fees for staff development.

Approving six budget transfers totaling $2,063,852.66. It was noted the transfers are part of annual end-of-year financial housekeeping and not out of the ordinary.