Budget committee discusses strategies to lower property tax levy ahead of August meeting

The Waunakee Community School District Board of Education convened on July 14, 2025, to discuss key updates and financial matters, particularly focusing on the upcoming tax levy. The meeting began with a review of the second draft of the budget, after which the board moved to the third draft, which is set to be presented at the annual meeting in August.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the tax levy, with board members highlighting two main factors influencing the levy increase. The first factor is community growth, which has historically absorbed about 3% of the tax levy annually. The second factor is the recent state budget, which has increased investment in the school property tax levy credit. This credit has helped mitigate the impact of the tax levy on homeowners, resulting in relatively stable property tax bills over the past few years.

However, the board noted that the current proposed net levy increase of 10.4% is higher than in previous years. This increase is compounded by the absence of new investments in the school property tax levy credit and equalization aid, which remains unchanged. The board acknowledged that the impact of these changes will vary significantly across different communities, with some districts, like Middleton and Madison, experiencing notable losses in equalization aid that will directly affect their property tax levies.

In response to these challenges, the budget committee has been tasked with exploring strategies to potentially lower the levy. The board plans to engage in further discussions during a workshop in August to identify viable options and gather feedback as they prepare for the fall.

Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of addressing the tax levy and its implications for the community, setting the stage for ongoing discussions and decision-making in the coming months.