11/9/26 COTW

The Novi School Board’s Joint Finance and Capital Projects Committee of the Whole met on November 9, 2026. Capital-projects staff reported that summer work—including elementary playgrounds and high school field and track replacements—was completed before school began; work continues on the Meadows practice fields and wellness center. Upcoming projects include further playground work, high school renovations, middle school improvements, the innovation hub, performing arts facilities, and utilities for a new activity center. Bids and awards expected from December through June represent approximately $150–175 million in work. Staff cited market inflation of about 15% year over year, compared with a typical 3–5%, and warned that later bids, including the NAC mass-timber project, could face cost and supply-chain pressure. They discussed value engineering, bid alternates, contingencies, and budget and bond cash-flow adjustments as possible responses; no contract awards or procurement votes were made.

The committee also heard the FY 2025–26 audit presentation, which reported an unmodified opinion, a general-fund balance of about $11 million (roughly 10% of expenditures), and two financial-statement findings that staff said had been corrected or were attributable to budget timing. Administrators presented a proposed budget-alignment process to address an estimated remaining $1.5–2.5 million gap after identifying about $4.5 million in savings, with stakeholder input and options expected over the coming months. Potential revenue measures include seeking voter approval to broaden allowable uses of the sinking fund without increasing its rate; administrators said spring timing could require work to begin in December. Board members supported starting stakeholder outreach and requested the plan for review, but took no formal vote on the proposal.