Antigo school board holds budget hearing; business manager cites $1.9 million voucher impact, mill rate of 6.77

The Unified School District of Antigo held its annual 2025–26 budget hearing, during which Business Manager Mrs. Fassbender reviewed the district—s budget calendar, revenue sources and fund structure and said private school choice (voucher) claims had grown from roughly $1.2 million in 2023–24 to about $1.9 million in 2025–26, a change that raises the district—s mill rate compared with a scenario without vouchers. The district—s proposed mill rate for the 2025 tax levy was presented as 6.77, down from last year—s 7.16.

Mrs. Fassbender said the district issues a preliminary budget in June but does not receive final allocations from the state until Oct. 15 and that "the school board clerk must set the levy and adopt the original budget on or before November 1." She described major revenue streams that fund operations: property tax (general fund and referendum debt service), state equalization aid, referendum receipts for capital projects, and federal aid previously included in operations. She…