How are Waukesha schools funded?
Schools are funded 50% from local property taxes, 43% from the state income and sales tax collection, 3% federal, and the last 4% from the tuition, user fees, and grants.
What costs are in the school budget?
Employee salary and benefits make up 82% of the budget. The other 18% covers utilities, books, technology, busing, office supplies, and debt payments towards referendum items.
What causes school costs to increase?
Costs increase due to annual staff compensation increases of 3.8% driven by state QEO law, increases in utility costs, increases in busing when the price of fuel goes up, health care costs for some support staff, and inflation on purchased items.
Why have we cut programs in recent years?
The current revenue limit law only allows school districts to increase revenue by about 2.3%. Inflation for schools has been running closer to 4%. That means each year the school district must cut 1.7% to balance the budget.
What programs and other items have been cut in Waukesha since Revenue Limits were imposed in 1992?
Summer school enrichment, middle school athletics, gifted and talented program (twice), middle school summer band camp, public relations officer, elementary extra-curricular activities, high school classes, technology (the 2001 technology referendum provided funds to update very old technology), on-going building maintenance (the 2001 building referendum was only for capital improvement projects), kindergarten aides, health room aides, site budgets, special education, administration. Class sizes have increased and will likely increase again. Fees have also increased for band, athletics, driver’s ed, etc. See the chart on the next page for more details.
How much do I pay for schools?
The school tax levy for 2006 was $7.78 per $1000 of the full market value of your home. That means school taxes on a $150,000 home are $1167. Schools were less than 50% of the property tax bill in 2006 for those living in the city. The rest of the property tax bill goes to the local city or town, the county, and WCTC. Prior to 1992 schools took about 80% of the property tax bill and the school tax levy was $20.16 per $1000 of full market value.
How do my taxes compare to other states?
In comparing spending by state and local government as a percentage of income, Wisconsin ranks 18th among the 50 states. (See Rankings Chart).
When will the school stop cutting programs?
TAX RANKINGS BY TYPE
| Property Tax | 8 |
| Personal Income | 9 |
| Fees | 28 |
| Business Tax | 32 |
| Sales Tax | 38 |
Answer: When the state enacts a new funding formula. As long as state law dictates a 1.5- 2% cost increase over revenue increase, the district will continue to cut about $3 million or more every year. This amount increases with declining enrollment – a real possibility as parents look for other options and remove their children from the District.
What about a referendum?
A referendum will not fix this problem, but it could provide short-term funding and stabilize the situation for 2-3 years, allowing time for a state-wide solution. However, it’s too late to hold a referendum to save this year’s cuts. Do not rule out a future referendum to protect our valuable K-12 schools in Waukesha until the funding formula changes at the state level.
Is there a long-term solution?
There are several proposals in Madison to change the funding formula. The Joint Finance Committee will likely hold hearings on proposals in the fall of 2007. As Project ABC monitors the situation, they will invite speakers to Waukesha to increase our understanding of all the options.
“Even if we cut all the extra-curricular’s such as sports, chess club and other co-ed activities, that’s only $1.6 million out of another $3 million we need to cut next year again,” Warren said. “And guess what? They’re next.”
Dan Warren, Waukesha school board member, speaking to local legislators. Waukesha