By Tyler Lamb
Editor
The Elkhorn Area School Board of Education adopted a $18,643,943 budget Monday night for the 2014 fiscal year.
District Business Manager Bill Trewyn presented the budget to the board, and following minimal conversation, it was unanimously approved. Board member Matt O’Donell was absent.
The budget is to be supported in revenue that includes $14,990,225 in the general operating fund; debt servicing, $3,628,125; community service, $135,453; and prior year chargebacks, $2,307.
The approved tax rate/mill rate is $10.52, a seven-cent drop from the previous year. Trewyn estimated the tax rate at $10.50 for a residence valued at $150,000, or $12.25 for a $175,000 home.
Budget highlights
Enrollments. Final third Friday student count was down by 55 students from the previous year. Final Open Enrollment was up, with a net increase of 13 students from the prior year.
Staffing. Four additional part-time Special Education aides: Tibbets Elementary level (2), Jackson Elementary (1) and the high school (1).
Other budget items. The district experienced 49 new staff members due to hires, retirements, transfers and resignations. In addition, the district reduced its short-term borrowing budget by an additional $40,000 due to lower interest rates.
Revenue cap calculation. Final Revenue cap calculation was about $170,000 less than earlier estimates based upon actual third Friday student counts.
State aids. The final certified aids include an additional $188,000 as a result of Wisconsin Act 46. The additional equalization aid results in a direct reduction in the annual tax levy by a corresponding amount of $188,000. The tax levy represents 11 cents per thousand of equalized value, or $11 savings on a $100,000 property value.
Tax levy and equalized value. The final tax levy represents $18,643,943, or a decrease of $112,167 from last year’s total levy. The levy also includes an additional $300,000 in debt service payment for callable debt. The levy represents $259,157 less than the proposed levy approved during the July 22 annual meeting. Moreover, the final equaled value dropped 1.22 percent from the prior year, wich produces a tax rate/mill rate of $10.52 per $100,000 of equalized value. The proposed estimated tax rate/mill rate during the annual meeting was $10.53.
Other matters
• High school fundraiser. The board approved a fundraiser for the Elkhorn Boys Basketball team.
• New course proposal. An action item on a new course proposal was tabled until an undetermined future meeting.
• Administrative goals. Principal Sarah Stone of West Side Elementary School detailed goals for the 2013-14 school year. According to material presented by the district, West Side will attempt to “continue to develop a culture that supports Professional Learning Communities to deepen student achievement.”
Principal Bryan Front and Assistant Principal Adam Bretl presented the middle school’s goals. According to the principals, the middle school will endeavor to “improve its DPI school report card by 10 points by the 2014-15 school year.”
• Winter coaching assignment. The board approved a myriad of winter coaching assignments. For a complete listing, see mywalworthcounty.com.
