New Berlin electors approve $45.12 million levy, allocate $6 million to capital fund

Electors at the New Berlin School District annual meeting on Sept. 19 approved a $45,118,375.75 tax levy for the 2025–26 school year, including a $6 million one‑time transfer to the capital improvement fund (Fund 41).

District Chief Financial and Operations Officer Patrick Miller, presenting the proposed budget, said the levy reflects a roughly 3.5% increase from the prior year and a projected mill rate of $6.02 per $1,000 of equalized property value — up from $5.89 last year. Miller said that estimate could change when October enrollment counts and state certifications are finalized. “We are very financially stable, very strong,” Miller said during the budget presentation.

The levy passed by show of hands during the annual meeting. The motion to levy $45,118,375.75 was made by Ron Seidel and seconded by Mitchell Helmer; electors approved the motion by a voice/hand vote (count not specified).

Why it matters: District officials said the one‑time $6 million transfer into Fund 41 will allow the district to fund the capital project plan for roughly five years without annual levies of about $1.2 million. Administrators described the move as a way to avoid repeated state‑aid reductions that would occur if the district used fund balance annually to support capital maintenance. Miller told electors the district has funded nearly $8 million in capital improvements over the past four years.

Key budget details

- State aid and revenue: Miller said state aid has grown since he joined the district — from about…