Wauwatosa School District's preliminary budget would lower levy

With state limits on the school district's revenue, and the coming relief from paying taxes back to Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Business Services Director John Mack is expecting this year's levy to decrease slightly to $43.366 million, from last year's $43.474 million.

The school board passed the preliminary budget at its meeting Monday. It will pass a final budget and tax levy in October, after enrollment numbers and state aid dollars have been established.

Under the preliminary budget, residents would pay $9.34 per $1,000 in property value. For a home valued at $220,000, that's $2,056 — $5 less than last year.

Property taxes account for about 53 percent of the district's budget, which is projected at about $82.22 million, plus $1.83 million for the recreation department and $2.04 million for food services.

Mack estimates the school district will have about $362,000 more to spend next school year compared to the last. Superintendent Phil Ertl said he doesn't see anything in the budget as a cut.

"We continue to meet and grow our services for our kids."

The biggest increase in the budget is a $1.5 million rise in teacher salaries, and additional costs for new administrative and aide positions. Ertl said the recent decision to outsource custodial work will likely save the district about $600,000 next school year.

Mack budgets nearly $1 million less in spending on non-capital objects, like teaching equipment and cleaning supplies. Ertl said this decrease is because of several purchases last year that will last the district through next year, such as teacher laptops, Chromebooks and security equipment.