West Allis-West Milwaukee board approves preliminary 2025–26 budget, raises fees and renews insurance

The West Allis-West Milwaukee School Board on June 23 approved a preliminary 2025–26 budget and a package of annual routine items, including continuation of the districtwide Community Eligibility Program so all students continue to receive free breakfast and lunch, a 3% annual increase to school fees and renewal of property, liability and workers' compensation insurance.

Board President Burns said the board must adopt a preliminary budget because “spending actually occurs beginning really now post approval,” and the district faces an uncertain state aid picture while the Wisconsin state budget remained unresolved. Superintendent Dr. Robinson told the board the district is planning conservatively and will “roll over what we have as what will be for next year.”

The preliminary levy the board approved is based on the district’s current aid level and other assumptions the administration labeled conservative. Finance staff said the draft levy is about $57.6 million and the administration presented a mill-rate illustration of $7.53 — “about $753 per $100,000 of value,” according to the presentation — but noted those numbers could change if the state budget or equalized property values shift.

Why it matters: the board’s vote sets spending and levy parameters that allow the district to hire, set school budgets and begin next year’s work even though state aid remains unsettled. Administrators said the district is budgeting for a $325-per-pupil state aid increase in the governor’s proposal and is modeling several downside scenarios, including an open-ended voucher cap next year that could increase private school voucher costs for districts.

Key fiscal assumptions and decisions

- State budget uncertainty: administrators repeated that the joint finance committee and the Legislature had not finalized a budget and that the district is planning off the current aid level to avoid midyear disruptions.

- Revenue assumptions: the administration used a $325 per-pupil state aid increase in examples and said special-education reimbursement effectively yields roughly 29–33% of eligible costs in current practice; they budgeted conservatively at the lower effective reimbursement rate.

- Expenses and staffing: the draft budget assumes a 9% increase for employees as part of the final year of the district’s compensation model, an assumed 15% rise in health benefit costs, and possible staff realignment via attrition. The administration said some staffing adjustments will be handled through attrition and reorganization rather than immediate layoffs.

- Referendum and bond context: Superintendent Dr. Robinson highlighted that last November voters approved two referendum questions that together enable $70 million in capital improvements and a $5.8 million operating question. The administration presented how those items and the referendum-driven fund changes factor into the mill-rate projection.

Board action items taken at the meeting

- Preliminary 2025–26 budget and tax levy: the board voted to approve the preliminary budget and levy parameters to allow the district to proceed with hiring and ordering for the coming year. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Community Eligibility Program (CEP): the board approved continuation of CEP, allowing all students to receive free breakfast and lunch. As Finance Director Norris put it during the meeting, “This allows all students to eat breakfast and lunch for free.” The administration said CEP is funded through federal fund 50 dollars and is currently implemented at no cost to the district’s general fund (fund 10).

- School fees: the board approved an annual 3% increase in school fees, the first change in 10 years. The administration presented sample dollar changes (for example, a current $40 half-day 4K fee would become $42; an elementary fee of $80 would increase to $83; high-school fees would move from $105 to about $109). The board and administration emphasized that families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals are eligible for fee reductions through direct certification or by completing district paperwork.

- District insurance renewal: the board approved renewal of district property, liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Administrators reported the renewal came in materially higher than recent years; a notable driver is the district’s insurance experience-mod (mod) rating, which rose from about 1.32 to 1.48 because of roughly 11 significant claims. Staff said the mod increase represents real dollars and that finance and HR will review claims to identify themes.

- CESA (regional cooperative) agreement and SWSA dues: the board approved the district’s annual agreement for placement seats and services with the regional educational service agency and approved membership dues for the Southeastern Wisconsin School Alliance (SWSA).

- Additional independent hearing officers: the board approved adding outside attorneys as independent hearing officers for expulsion hearings for the 2025–26 school year. The administration said the approval is annual and the attorneys named would serve as third‑party hearing officers.

What the board discussed (not decided)

Board members asked for clarifications about the phrase “reduction in staff” used in the budget presentation; administration clarified that projected staffing alignment is expected to happen through attrition and reorganization and that no immediate workforce reductions were announced at the meeting. Board members also pressed for earlier insurance and coaching documentation and sought assurances staff will return with follow-up information on health insurance renewal rates and the driver of the higher insurance mod.

Other items mentioned

- District communications: the superintendent showed a referendum kickoff video and described planned public updates and timelines for the $70 million capital program. The administration said the district will provide weekly social posts, monthly newsletters and a web timeline with progress updates.

- Recognitions: the superintendent highlighted a four‑year district program in which West Allis‑West Milwaukee school psychologists trained pediatric residents at Children’s Hospital on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 504 plans and school supports; staff member Jesse Newmore described the program’s origins during the COVID‑19 era and said it has trained roughly 150 pediatricians.

What’s next

Administrators said they will continue to monitor the state budget through June and will return to the board with revised levy and mill‑rate estimates after final state action and after November budget refinements. Staff also agreed to provide follow-up details on insurance claims driving the experience‑mod increase and on projected costs that depend on statewide policy changes, such as the removal of the 10% private‑voucher cap.