District Asking For 11 Percent Tax Increase; Hearing Planned

WAUKESHA, WI — Citing the need to cover the costs of a 2018 schools referendum, Waukesha School District officials rolled out a preliminary budget for the 2019-20 school year that carves out a roughly 11 percent property tax levy increase.

According to district officials, the proposed 2019-20 budget includes a tax levy increase of 11.35 percent. The tax rate per $1,000 of property value would be $8.51 compared to $7.80 in last year's budget cycle. The increase amounts to about $142 for the owner of a $200,000 property.

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2019-20 proposed Waukesha School Budget

The proposed increase would be the largest since the mil rate increased by more than 12 percent in the 1998-99 budget. The rate had seen three straight years of slight decreases prior to the coming budget cycle.

Mill Rates by Year:

2019-20 (proposed)
11.35 percent increase

2018-19
1.71 percent decrease

2017-18
0.80 percent decrease

2016-17
1.43 percent increase

2015-16
2.15 percent increase

The Waukesha Board of Education will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lindholm Building, 222 Maple Ave. for citizen input regarding the 2019-2020 school district budget.

A 3-minute time limit will be allotted to all speakers commenting on the 2019-2020 school district budget.

In Nov. 2018, voters approved borrowing $60 million to pay for improving safety and security at elementary, middle and high schools, which includes equipment upgrades, building renovations and improvements; upgrades, additions, remodeling and renovations.

That work was directed to the Les Paul Central Campus and Horning and Butler Middle schools.

South High School would get heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades in addition to classroom and lab upgrades. The referendum also outlined site and surface improvements at various school buildings, and the acquisition and installation of minor fixtures and equipment across the district.