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LOCAL SCHOOL CHIEF EXPLAINS LEVY JUMP
Thursday, August 6th, 2009 -- 11:37 am
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
Neillsville’s School District Administrator says a big tax levy increase is the direct result of the state budget signed into law in June.
According to preliminary numbers, Neillsville’s tax levy will jump 11%; that will likely increase taxes on a $100,000 property by $80.
"What's leading to the large increase is the reduction in equalization aid to school districts like ours," says John Gaier.
He says the state made a commitment to fund public schools at a rate of 2/3s.
"Periodically, over time, they have reduced that. This year, because of the poor economic times, they have reduced that a great deal. A lot of the obligations are passed on to the local property taxpayers," he notes.
Budget worksheets show the lost revenue in the “Federal Sources” category. Neillsville, for instance shows an 84% drop in that budget line, but Gaier says it’s misleading. That decrease is actually the result of federal stimulus money being used to offset the decreased state aid.
"State legislators have been putting new monies that go to schools to the levy credit. That is not equalizing," Gaier says. "Wealthy districts tend to come out better than the districts that need it the most."
While anger is sometimes heaped on local school officials, Gaier says the state funding formula basically ties their hands.
These numbers are preliminary, but represent the "best guess" of district administration.
Local schools will be holding their annual meeting over the next few weeks.
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