Milwaukee board approves FY26 fall budget adjustments, including $2M for extracurriculars and 2.95% levy increase

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors on Oct. 28 approved administration's fall adjustments to the adopted FY26 budget, adopting resolutions for the school operations, extension and construction funds by unanimous 8-0 votes.

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius opened the meeting and presented the administration's recommended fall changes, saying the adjustments reflect "a few key factors" including higher state aid and special education funds. She told the board the amended budget reduces the vacancy adjustment by about $22 million, trims roughly $11 million in expenses tied to lower enrollment and results in 54 fewer full-time-equivalent positions "but it should be noted there are no layoffs."

The administration said revenues are up about $52 million overall: roughly $20 million in increased special-education funding under the new state budget and about $32 million in state aid, a change the presentation tied in part to voter approval of a recent referendum. The administration recommended a 2.95% increase in the district's property tax levy; officials said that translates to an estimated increase of about $8 on the MPS portion of the tax bill for the owner of a $100,000 home.

Budget Director Nick Sinram described several prioritized investments in the fall adjustment, including approximately $4 million for school-based "stand-up" critical-needs requests (in addition to about $3.7 million approved in spring), roughly $2 million for school-based extracurricular programs to increase equitable access, $1.4 million for facilities operations, $560,000 for HR reorganization tied to audit recommendations, $600,000 for mental wellness days, and funds for lead stabilization and deferred maintenance in the capital fund.

"We are considering all vacant positions in our search for repurposing dollars to invest closer and closer to our students," Sinram said, explaining the intent to move toward a lower vacancy-adjustment rate and centralized budgeting consistent with WUFAR (WISCONSIN Uniform Financial Accounting Requirements) guidance.

During public comment, Nick Onorato, secretary of the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association, urged the board to approve the $2 million extracurricular adjustment and said the MTEA had reached an agreement with administration on the funding. Luz Hernandez, vice president of the Milwaukee Transportation Association, asked the board to ensure pay related to missed 2024 wellness days is included on employees' first November paycheck.

Board members asked for clarifications on several items. Director Fonds asked how the $560,000 HR allocation would be spent; administration said it is for restructuring positions (including adding a paralegal) and for professional development, not for across-the-board raises. Director Jackson asked whether recent storm-related funds were FEMA reimbursements; the administration said the district had received a $4 million insurance prepayment and has not received FEMA funding. Consultant Marques Guzman of Baird cautioned that while increased special-education reimbursement is welcome, districts should model potential effects on future aid because changes to transfers between funds can alter shared-cost calculations and maintenance-of-effort obligations.

Procedurally, President Missy Zomber moved to waive Board Rule 1.09 to allow public testimony at the special meeting; the board approved the waiver by an 8-0 roll-call vote. The board then voted to "divide the question" so the operations and extension funds would be considered separately from the construction fund; that motion also passed 8-0. The board adopted the school operations and extension fund resolutions (ops fund: $1,306,549,613 required; levy amount referenced: $352,418,941) by roll call (8-0) and then adopted the construction fund resolution (construction fund: $2,657,048 required) by roll call (8-0). The clerk cited applicable Wisconsin statutes when reading each resolution (see note).

The meeting closed with the chair thanking administration for a budget "that puts students first." With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Sources and attributions in this report are drawn directly from the Oct. 28 board presentation and roll-call record; dollar figures and vote tallies are those read into the record during the meeting.