School Board Finds Balanced Budget, Sans Cuts

The Port Washington-Saukville School Board approved a balanced budget plan on Monday night that school officials said is certainly less painful than usual, for the district and taxpayers alike.

"At this time, we always have a balanced budget when we present it to the board," Superintendent Michael Weber said. "But this time, there were no reductions or cutbacks."

The total proposed budget for 2012-13 is  $28,766,107 — an increase of less than 1 percent over last year's budget.

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Along with the balanced budget, the total tax levy expected for the coming year dropped to $13.9 million, a 1.82 percent decrease from the 2011-12 fiscal year levy of over $14.1 million. The mill rate per $1,000 of property assessed dropped accordingly to $9.20 from $9.37.

That means a homeowner who's house is valued at $175,000 would pay $1,610 in taxes for the 2012-13 school year, down from $1,639.75 in 2011-12.

According to Weber, a number of factors contributed to this drop, and some of those factors are not necessarily under the district’s control.

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For one, he pointed to a marked year for teacher retirements (a handful of vacancies were filled Monday night, with more to be filled in the coming months, including 12 teachers). Those retirees, in most cases, will be replaced by younger teachers with lower base pay. The Ozaukee Press reported last week that teacher salaries in the district start at $36,877.

The easily balanced budget, Weber said, was also bolstered by from WEA Trust, a move that saved the district $920,000. This move followed a trend after Gov. Scott Walker’s passage of Act 10.

Director of Business Services Jim Froemming said the balanced budget gives the district more flexibility in providing student services during the coming year.

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"This is very positive," Froemming said after Monday’s meeting. "We have great opportunities for students learning, and everyone is working together to make it happen."

The preliminary budget was passed unanimously and without discussion during the regular meeting. The budget will be finalized in late October following the tax levy approval and confirmation from the state.

— Port Washington-Saukville Editor Lyssa Beyer contributed to this report.