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 October.

Key numbers and drivers
- Total general revenue authority: roughly $109 million (revenue-limit authority). Equalized aid was projected at about $60.8 million, leaving an allowable tax levy of about $48.2 million for the revenue limit.
- Total proposed tax levy (all funds): $56,271,000; the levy includes referendum debt (fund 39) and community-service levies (fund 80).
- Projected equalized property value used in the calculation: $6,990,000,000; Mr. Norris said equalized value is projected to fall about 2.42%, contributing to an estimated mill rate of 8.05 for 2025–26.
- Fund highlights: fund 10 and 27 (general and special education) combined revenues were presented as about $135 million; salaries and benefits represent roughly 66.5% of projected expenses. Fund 49 (referendum capital) opening balance was reported at about $75 million with planned 2025–26 expenditures near $21 million; fund 46 long-term capital trust beginning balance was about $8.78 million.

District adjustments that closed the shortfall
Mr. Norris told the board the district closed a previously disclosed $2.65 million gap by a mix of revenue and spending moves: a lower-than-expected insurance increase (from a projected near-24% renewal to about 11%); federal Title II–IV grant releases; a one-year increase in school-based mental-health grant dollars; moving some custodial time and SRO costs to fund 80; reducing a planned transfer to fund 46; and other operating reductions and carry-forward balances. Together, he said, those items converted the earlier deficit into a balanced presentation for board consideration.

Special education and transfer-of-service
Mr. Norris reviewed transfer-of-service (TOS) rules the district uses to request additional revenue when the district assumes services previously provided by another public agency. He said the district posted a larger-than-typical TOS claim this year after roughly 193 students with IEPs moved into the district, creating approximately 25 additional staff needs and a sizable first-year expenditure that is typically reimbursed at about 40%–42% in the following year under current biennial budget provisions.

Debt service and credit ratings
The district reported continued repayment of two debt funds: fund 38 (energy-efficiency debt nearing final payment) and fund 39 (referendum debt tied to the 2024 bond issuance). Mr. Norris said the district’s S&P rating improvement produced a lower interest cost on the bond sale (he cited an effective interest rate near 3.78%), which reduced borrowing costs and the community’s long-term cost for the projects.

Other funds and programs
Mr. Norris noted the district will continue Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) free breakfasts and lunches; fund 50 (food service) projects a modest operating deficit this year that is covered by its fund balance. The district’s OPEB (other post-employment benefits) trust (fund 73) reported liabilities declining in recent actuarial analysis, with a 06/30/2025 liability cited near $27 million and a projected $24 million in 06/30/2026 on the Milliman actuarial review.

Board discussion and next steps
Board members asked clarifying questions about voucher costs, the effect of equalized value on mill rate, and next deadlines the district will use to finalize levy amounts. Mr. Norris emphasized that several critical inputs remain to be finalized: the third-Friday pupil count, Oct. 1 equalized property values, and the state’s final aid calculations. The board will consider formal levy and budget adoption in an October meeting and certify the levy to the state by the statutory deadline.

Formal actions at the meeting
The only recorded formal action in the public budget hearing portion was approval of the consent agenda (minutes and employment summary) later in the meeting (see actions array). The budget hearing itself was a public informational session; no budget adoption or levy certification took place at the meeting.

Discussion-only versus decision: the hearing was a public, statutory informational proceeding; Mr. Norris and staff answered questions and promised to return with final revenue and levy figures for formal board action in October.

Ending: The board closed the budget hearing and moved to the superintendent’s report and other agenda items; Mr. Norris reiterated that the budget remains subject to the fall revenue and count updates before formal adoption.