West Bend electors approve $53.9 million tax levy; mill rate projected to hold at $6.14

West Bend Joint School District No. 1 electors voted unanimously Sept. 22 to adopt a tax levy of $53,894,530 for the 2025–26 school year, the district announced during its annual budget hearing and subsequent annual meeting of electors.

The levy resolution, read aloud at the meeting as “$53,894,530, including $9,950,000 to be applied to the referendum debt service fund, $884,254 to be applied to the community services fund, and the balance of $43,060,276 to be applied to the general fund,” was moved by Mister Pickler and seconded by Miss Melstrand and carried by a visual vote with no opposition recorded.

“The purpose of this hearing is to give the public an opportunity to provide feedback regarding our budget,” School Board President Chris Weigert said at the start of the meeting. Assistant Superintendent Lenny Hansen presented the budget overview and highlighted several key assumptions and risks affecting the proposal.

Hansen told electors that the district projects the mill rate will remain flat at $6.14 per $1,000 of assessed value, though he cautioned the figure was not final. “The mill rate or the amount taxed per thousand dollars of property value is projected to remain flat at $6.14,” Hansen said. He added that several numbers shown at the hearing were still estimates and that the state will provide final figures by Oct. 15, when the board will adopt the final budget and certify the levy.

The presentation summarized revenue drivers and pressures: property taxes and state equalization aid make up the largest share of revenues; federal pandemic-era funds have largely expired and reduced federal revenue; and the state’s special education reimbursement continues to underpay district costs. Hansen said last year’s shortfall in special education reimbursement exceeded $9,000,000 and that the general fund is expected to transfer “more than $8,000,000” this year to cover special-education costs that the state does not reimburse.

Hansen and Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Wimmer outlined other highlights: the district’s fund balance is projected to fall within its board policy target range at “just over 17%” of the general fund, the district completed a successful referendum in November 2024 and later sold $80 million in bonds in April 2025. The administration reported it secured a 4.42% interest rate on the bond sale and a Standard & Poor’s credit rating upgrade that placed the district in the top 19% of districts rated by S&P, which officials said reduced long-term interest costs by more than $8,000,000 compared with earlier projections.

Officials also noted ongoing capital activity: $1,950,000 in annual capital improvements funded by the district this year in addition to referendum projects, accelerated work at Greentree and McLean schools, and design work under way for Jackson Elementary with plans to break ground on a future high‑school renovation.

No eligible electors spoke during the public-comment period on the levy or budget before the vote, and the chair declared the resolution carried without opposition. The district emphasized that some figures remain estimates until state data are released on Oct. 15 and that the board will present a final budget for adoption in October.

Next steps: the school board will consider a final budget and certify the tax levy after state figures are released. Additional construction and project timelines for referendum-funded work are available on the district’s referendum webpage and will be reported monthly to the board.