Menomonee Falls School Taxes Likely to Drop This Year

Menomonee Falls School District residents should see a slight drop in their property tax bills this year as both the distict's levy and tax rate are expected to decline.

Jeff Gross, director of business services, said Monday the projected tax rate for the district is $11.61 per $1,000 of equalized value, which would be a 10-cent decrease from last year. The total tax levy would be set at $37.8 million, which is a 3.6 percent decrease from last year's $39.2 million levy.

But Gross noted the projections are far from a sure thing.

“Nothing is set in stone,” he said. “It’s our best guess.”

The district held its second of four hearings on the 2011-12 budget Monday, one day after .

Gross said the district will see a $632 per pupil decrease in state revenues this year, coupled with a projected enrollment of 3,958, which is down from 4,027 in the 2010-11 school year. Maximum revenue allowed per pupil was also decreased by 5.5 percent to $10,855, which is down to nearly the same level as the 2007-08 school year.

The district started the budget process facing a deficit of $5.1 million in 2011-12. But Gross said that shortfall is being addressed via a $1.4 million reduction in staff, a $1.4 million savings from changes in contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System contributions, a $1.1 million savings from a change in health and dental insurance, a $250,000 reduction in site and supply budgets, an increase in open enrollment spots projected to collect $300,000, and the use of $470,000 given to the district last year from the federal JOBS Act.

Gross said even with the reductions, the district will still be able to increase capital projects expenditures and continue its commitment to students by expanding programs.

The next budget hearing will take place Aug. 8 and the board will most likely approve the document at its Sept. 12 meeting, after the district's annual meeting.

“We realize there things yet to change…and things are not finalized, but this really prepares us for what’s coming,” board President Kathy Shurilla said.

In other action Monday, the board:

• Approved contracts for teacher Melissa Hill and Associate Principal Mark Ashenhurst.

• Approved of contracts to the Southeastern Wisconsin School Alliance and Suburban Schools Legislative Committee at a joint cost of $3,000. The board also approved continuing membership with the Cooperative Educational Service Agency No. 1 for the 2011-12 school year.

•  Canceled its July 11 meeting. Its next meeting will take place July 25.