Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano School District property taxes are expected to drop, although the amount could change once the state budget is finalized.
The Shawano School Board on Monday approved a preliminary budget of just under $28 million and a tax levy of almost $12.46 million.
Louise Fischer, district business manager, said her budget figures are based on the budget proposed by Gov. Scott Walker.
“It’s based on assumptions,” she said. “Dealing with a state that has no budget, these numbers are just numbers.”
The state budget is seven weeks late, primarily because Republicans cannot agree on how much to borrow for roads.
The current tax rate for the district is $10.18 per $1,000 of equalized valuation. According to Fischer, the tax rate is expected to drop to $9.81 if property values in the area stay flat with last year’s values. If they increase by 1 percent, the rate will be $9.71, and it’ll be $9.61 if the values are up by 2 percent.
The state Department of Revenue last week reported Shawano County’s equalized value increased by 3 percent over last year.
Only 32 percent of the district’s revenue comes from local property taxes. The lion’s share, 53 percent comes from equalized aid from the state, which is based on enrollment.
Walker’s proposed budget has earmarked an additional $200 per student to schools in the 2017-18 school year, and another $204 per student for the following school year. According to Fischer, that would mean a 3.72 percent increase in state aid if the Legislature goes with the governor’s recommendations.
“A stable or growing enrollment means more state revenue for schools, including us,” she said.
The remaining 15 percent of the revenue comes from other state and federal sources, including high poverty aid to help schools with high percentages of students on free and reduced meals. Fischer said the district is expecting to lose about $166,000 because the district’s percentage has dropped below 50 percent.
Fischer also reported health insurance premiums for district employees will stay even, and dental insurance will increase by 4 percent. The district has already approved food service and housekeeping contracts for the year, and Fischer noted that this is the last year of the district’s transportation contract with Johnson Bus.
The district’s annual meeting, where the public votes on the tax levy, begins at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B, Shawano.
The district is planning community meetings on Sept. 6 and Sept. 12 at Shawano Community High School to present the proposed budget and gather feedback. Times for the meetings were not available by the Leader’s press time.