Green Bay School District officials unveiled a proposed budget that balances a reduced mill rate with a modest 1.22% increase in the property‑tax levy. The plan, presented by Chief Financial Officer Angie Roble, reflects the district’s effort to manage rising costs while serving more than 17,000 students.
Staff adjustments and salary reductions
Roble explained that recent consolidations have eliminated over 100 full‑time positions and lowered overall salaries by 1.65%. “Our efforts have been to right‑align staff with our declining enrollment, so those efforts are reflected in this budget as well,” she said.
Tax implications for homeowners
The district expects the mill rate to fall from $7.41 cents to $7.07 cents. At the same time, the levy increase of 1.22% is notably lower than the more than 5% increase voters saw in the previous year. “If you recall last year, our increase was over 5%. So, it is much less than what it was last year,” Roble noted. Property owners’ actual tax impact will depend on the estimated fair market value of each home.
Special‑education funding
Wisconsin’s state budget will reimburse 45% of the district’s special‑education costs this year, though last year’s reimbursement fell short of expectations. Anticipating a similar shortfall, the district built the projected shortfall into its budget. “Rising costs across the board, across the state, special‑education costs are rising,” Roble said.
Future referendum and potential impacts
Looking ahead, the district is preparing a four‑year operational referendum that will appear on the November ballot. If voters reject the measure, officials plan to ask again in April. Failure of the referendum could trigger additional staff consolidations, layoffs, or program cuts, according to GBAPS Board of Education Trustee Laura McCoy.
Next steps
The Green Bay School Board is scheduled to vote on the budget proposal on October 26. Residents will then decide on the referendum on November 3.
Community members are encouraged to attend the board meeting and review the proposed budget details, which are available on the district’s website.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
