Over Half of Wisconsin's Public Schools Will Receive Less State Aid
Thursday, July 2nd, 2015 -- 11:40 AM
-More than half of Wisconsin public school districts will receive less general aid in the 2015-16 school year than they did for the 2014-15 school year according to estimates released by the Department of Public Instruction.Although the 2015-17 state budget has not been finalized, the most recent version of the biennial budget maintains the same level of general school aid, or $4.476 billion, as was appropriated in the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Actual aid payments are estimated at $4.346 billion because of statutory reductions for the Milwaukee voucher program and for independent charter schools. Of the state's 424 school districts, 55 percent are estimated to receive less general aid in 2015-16, while 44 percent of districts are expected to receive more aid. Two districts have no change in the aid estimate.
Taking a look at the local school districts, Neillsville is looking at a 2.32% decrease in state aid with their estimate at $5,575,091 compared to the last school years' $5,707,527. Granton is looking at a 3.25% increase with their estimate of $1,634,790 compared to last years' $1,583, 261. Loyal will see a 5.68% increase with their estimate at $3,972,677 compared to last years' $3,759,169. Greenwood will see a 2.47% increase with their estimate of $2,288,111 compared to last years' $2,232,998. Owen-Withee will see a 1.17% decrease with their estimate of $3,223,007 compared to last years' $3,261,082.
For other school districts, Thorp will see .87% increase, Abbotsford will see a 4.16% increase, Colby will see a 2.4% increase, Spencer will see a 3.26% increase, a 2.96% decrease for Pittsville, a 2% increase for Black River Falls and a 2.74% decrease for Osseo-Fairchild.
With a few exceptions, most area school districts will see an increase for state aid; however, it should be noted that this is after the districts have seen substantial cuts and freezes in state aid the past decade. Also, those numbers could change based on the number of students the district has and the finalization of the state budget. The current numbers released by the DPI are just estimates based off of last years' numbers.
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