The Pella School Board started the budgeting process for the upcoming fiscal year at their work session Monday.

District administration presented about the financial status of the district and shared projected scenarios. One of the key figures shown was that the board would have to consider budget cuts in three years if state aid increases only come in at one percent annually, even with enrollment growth reported this year and early retirement incentives that helped close a spending authority shortfall projected earlier this year for fiscal year 2020, which is what the board will further work on at their next few meetings. The board also discussed what to do with the instructional support levy and its impact on the future of the budget, as a one-time fix that could prevent cuts from happening in the near future. It could be raised to 10 percent without raising property taxes, according to district administration, and they stated the levy will likely drop after the 2016 fiscal year early retirement incentives expire this year. The board also discussed a tax increment financing proposal for the Webster Park housing development on Main Street. A presentation about the district’s affirmative action plan was given by Director of K-12 Instruction Lowell Ernst, and the board voted to approve those goals.