When the Superior School Board set its budget last fall, the spike in property tax rates was inevitable. The board had only one decision to make -- dole out the hit all at once or soften the blow over a two-year span.
Board members went with the multi-year approach, hoping Wisconsin's economy would improve, or at the very least, level out.
Where school funding is concerned, it seems the latter is true.
Equalization aid remains nearly the same for the Superior school district for the 2010-11 school year. Estimates released by the state show the district receiving about $4,700 less than its previous budget.
"I'm glad to see that equalization aid number where it is, though," said Jack Amadio, district business manager.
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There had been concerns the state would cut school funding further this year.
Wisconsin slashed education spending across the board for the 2009-10 school year, leaving Superior with $1.66 million less in equalization aid. The district had expected to receive about $32 million.
The district won't finalize its budget until October, but Amadio said he doesn't expect state aid estimates to change much in the interim. He also said summer estimates usually are conservative, so the numbers are more likely to go up instead of down.
If the current projections hold, the Superior school district is looking at an 8 percent increase in its tax levy. Taxpayers saw an increase of more than 9 percent last year.
"This is what we talked about, a 17 percent increase over two years," Amadio said.
Last fall, the Superior School Board faced a double-digit increase in its tax levy -- even after cutting $600,000 in expenses. The board eventually voted to use $1.2 million in reserve funds to decrease the district's debt service levy, with the intention of spreading a 17 to 20 percent property tax hike over two years.
Board Member John Hendricks said the expected 8 percent increase this year is less than desirable, but the future may hold a glimmer of hope.
Late last month, State Superintendent Tony Evers outlined a plan to reform the school funding system in Wisconsin. Among his proposals, Evers called for a base level of state aid for every student, additional transportation funding for districts in rural areas, predictable increases in state aid and a new method for determining aid that takes into consideration students in poverty.
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Evers also proposed shifting about $900 million of school tax levy credit revenue to general school aid.
Superior Superintendent Janna Stevens said such changes would be welcome by the Superior school district. Most beneficial for Superior would be the proposal to allocate state aid based on student poverty rather than property values. Across the district, about 50 percent of all students receive free or reduced lunches, Stevens said.
Many of Superior's recent funding issues would be alleviated by the changes, but Stevens pointed out the proposal is, as of yet, only a framework; it must pass through the Legislature before any changes in school funding can be enacted.
The Superior Telegram and the News Tribune are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
