Green Bay schools adopt 2025–26 budget, certify $115.24 million levy after small mill‑rate rise

The Green Bay Area Public School District Board of Education on Monday approved the districts 2025–26 final budget and certified a $115,239,887 property-tax levy after a public hearing in which the districts chief financial officer reviewed final state aid and voucher figures.

Angie, the districts chief financial officer, told the board that a late October revision to state and private‑school numbers raised the mill rate by three cents. "So overall, for this, for this budget, we did increase 3¢ on the mill rate. So the mill rate that was presented 2 weeks ago was $7 and 38, cents per 1,000, and that increased to $7.41," Angie said.

The budget presentation said the levy increased by about $413,000 while equalized aid rose by about $284,000 after final state numbers were received. The districts private‑school voucher payments were updated from an estimate of roughly $13.7 million to nearly $14.1 million — the largest single driver of the levy change — while payments to the districts one independent charter school decreased slightly. The CFO said the district still projects an operating deficit of about $3.5 million for the coming year, to be addressed through planned school consolidations, staffing adjustments (through attrition) and use of fund balance.

"We are projecting the 3 and a half million dollar deficit, as we talked about a couple weeks ago," Angie told board members during questions, adding the district would continue to "consolidate schools next year so that will address next year's deficit as well" and would use fund balance to cover any remaining shortfall.

Board members asked for clarifications about how voucher and charter payments affect revenue limits and levy calculations. Angie explained that the district counts voucher and charter students for revenue‑limit purposes but then pays the associated amounts to the receiving private or charter schools; voucher payments are prorated across reporting cycles when enrollments change.

During the public hearing, community speakers stressed priorities for spending. "Budgets tell the truth," said Damien Dorn, who urged investment in mentorship, mental health and creative arts. Parents and activity leaders raised issues about funding equity between athletics and nontraditional extracurriculars such as esports and trap shooting.

The board voted to adopt the final budget and then to certify the levy of $115,239,887; Kinsey, the districts clerk for the meeting, reported the motions carried with all board members voting in favor. The board also approved a related motion to publish the levy to municipal partners by the Nov. 10 deadline so local tax bills can be prepared.

Background and what it means

The mill rate change reflects two factors: the boards approved levy and the districts equalized property value base. Angie explained that equalized values across the districts municipalities rose sharply this year, which lowers the mill rate despite an increase in the total levy. "When that equalized value rate goes up by a billion dollars, right, that's why that drops, but it doesn't necessarily mean that your taxes are going to drop," she said.

The CFO also described the districts fund balance policy: the board maintains a minimum 15% fund balance and the district currently holds about 23% (auditors often prefer about 25%), which the CFO said provides cash‑flow flexibility and borrowing advantages but is a one‑time source to close operating gaps.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Adopt 2025–26 final budget as presented — Outcome: Approved (unanimous; all board members voting in favor). - Motion: Certify levy of $115,239,887 — Outcome: Approved (unanimous; all board members voting in favor).

Who spoke and why it matters

Speakers at the hearing included Angie (CFO), board members who asked technical questions about vouchers, and community members who urged greater investment in student supports and more equitable funding for extracurricular programs. The approvals set the districts tax request for municipalities to include on property tax bills and establish the districts spending plan for the fiscal year beginning 2025–26.

Remaining clarifications

The CFO said the precise dollar figure that will appear on an individual taxpayers bill depends on municipality and local apportionment; she noted that the City of Green Bay will print the districts voucher levy amount on its tax statement and that the city accounts for roughly 70% of the district levy.