West Allis-West Milwaukee presents balanced 2025–26 budget after midcycle adjustments

Assistant Superintendent Mr. Norris presented the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District’s proposed 2025–26 budget at a public hearing Monday, saying administrative changes and updated state and federal figures narrowed a previously reported $2.65 million deficit to a balanced position.

The hearing gave the public and board a review of projected revenues, the district’s revenue-limit calculations, and what Mr. Norris called “a balanced budget” after a series of adjustments over the last month.

Mr. Norris said the district’s budget outlook changed when several items came in better than earlier estimates: health-insurance renewal rates were lower than expected, certain federal Title II–IV funds were released, a one-year boost in school-based mental-health grant funding arrived, and the district reclassified some custodial and SRO (school resource officer) costs to a different fund. “Health insurance came in at 11% with changes,” he said, and later told the board those revisions and other shifts “brought us from 2.65 [million] to balance.”

Why it matters: the budget determines staffing and programs for the coming year and sets the levy the district will certify to the state. Mr. Norris walked the board through the mechanics used by Wisconsin districts: the third-Friday pupil count establishes recurring revenue, Oct. 1 finalizes equalized property value (which drives the mill rate), and the Department of Public Instruction finalizes state aid later in…