Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@wolfrivermedia.com
The Shawano School Board got its first glance at its 2015-16 budget Monday, but, with several factors still to be determined, it might as well have been through beer goggles.
The most important unknown factor is how much state aid the district will receive in the next two years. Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed two-year state budget included cutting existing categorical aid of $150 per student in the first year, which would result in the district losing $380,000.
Business manager Louise Fischer said that there has been talk in Madison that the Joint Legislative Finance Committee could restore or change the categorical aid before the final budget is passed in June.
Walker’s proposed budget also seeks to continue the freeze on school districts’ levy limits, which would mean that the district could only seek $13.7 million from local taxpayers to cover expenses.
The district assessed taxpayers $10.34 per $1,000 of equalized valuation for the current school year, which means the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $1,034 in property taxes earmarked for schools. If property values stay stagnant, the tax rate could increase to $10.94, according to Fischer, while a 2-percent increase would only increase the rate to $10.73 and a 4-percent hike would make the rate $10.52.
Fischer did not give estimates on what the tax rate would be if property values dropped.
“We kept tabs on Madison, but we did not rely on a Madison decision or rumors to direct our budget process,” Fischer told the board.
Only a few things in the budget are certain, Fischer said. Among them are health insurance rates and contracted services like transportation, cleaning and food service.
“That’s about it,” she said.
The budget will continue to evolve in the coming months, with several committee meetings planned to provide updates once the state budget is finalized and local expenses can be determined. At least three public forums are planned for residents to weigh in on the budget, but no dates have been finalized.
The district’s annual meeting will be Sept. 21, when residents will vote on the tax levy. The final tax rate will not be determined until Oct. 26, after the latest property value figures are released.