School leaders across the area are singing positive notes about this past year's fiscal year budgeting cycle.

School leaders say they received all four of their required state payments, and Monticello schools are among them. Superintendent Dr. Vic Zimmerman says every school district across the state received the three payments they were expecting plus a fourth payment, but notes, they were all pro-rated.

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While all districts were made whole in 2014, Dr. Zimmerman says the same message they received word they would get all their 2014 payments, they were warned the circumstances may not be the same again ins 2015.

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Reaction among superintendents has varied as to whether they view the four payments is a sign things in Springfield are turning around. Dr. Zimmerman says things in Springfield continue to be very questionable when it comes to the challenges and issues they face and funding schools properly.

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Major decisions lie ahead for the residents of Monticello when it comes to possibly expanding the budgets of the school district. Dr. Zimmerman notes, they will be placing a pair of referendums on the ballot in November for voters to consider.

They will deal with implementing a one-cent sales tax towards district facilities and part of those funds are likely to be geared towards a new high school, if the voters give that a thumbs up. We'll hear more on both initiatives later this week on Regional Radio News.