The Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board of Education approved budget adjustments for the 2025–26 fiscal year and certified a combined school tax levy of $46,255,543 at its Oct. 27 meeting.

The board’s discussion centered on a recent state aid certification and how changes in state equalization aid affect local revenue limits. Administrators explained that the state’s October certification left no increase in equalization aid for many districts; the board heard that roughly 70% of districts saw flat or reduced equalization aid, which can push more of the revenue burden to local levies.

Board members and administrators discussed options and contingencies for next year’s budget, including temporarily deferring some expenditures (wage increases, parts of the HRA contribution, or capital commitments) until after the district sees next October’s aid and levy calculations. Several trustees urged comparison with nearby districts to provide taxpayers context if a larger levy increase is needed in 2026–27.

On the motions: the board voted to approve the presented budget adjustments that accompany the levy certification. The board then approved a combined school tax levy of $46,255,543 and certified the district’s share to the City of Oak Creek ($38,316,399.51) and to the City of Franklin ($7,939,143.49).

Administrators said the district’s next major revenue receipts are scheduled for December (state aid) and January (first tax payment), and they will prepare scenario analyses showing which budget levers would be pulled at different levy outcomes.

The board’s approval authorizes administrators to implement the adjustments as presented; specific tax-bill impacts for individual taxpayers will depend on city, county and other taxing jurisdictions’ final numbers.

Motions and formal actions taken at the meeting are listed below.