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Stoughton Area School District adopts $31.7 million tax levy and 2025–26 budget
Summary
The Stoughton Area School District board adopted a $31,717,901 tax levy and approved the 2025–26 budget by voice vote after district staff explained revenue-limit mechanics, enrollment trends, and the effect of the April 2024 operational referendum and the state's $325 per-pupil increase.
The Stoughton Area School District Board of Education approved a $31,717,901 tax levy and the district's 2025–26 operating budget by voice votes at its annual meeting and regular session.
Erica Pickett, the district's director of business services, told the board that the state revenue limit "controls over 80% of the total resources we have here in the district" and described how the three-year membership average and the maximum revenue per member determine allowable revenue. She also noted the current state budget provides a $325 per-pupil increase and that the April 2024 operational referendum contributes a recurring $4.3 million to the district's base.
"This year for our district, the total final levy that's allowed is $31,717,901," Pickett said during the budget presentation. She explained the district calculates the maximum allowable property tax levy by subtracting general state aid (about $12.1 million for the district) and other state aids from the revenue-limit total and then adding referendum debt service, community service and prior chargebacks.
The presentation highlighted two long-term budget pressures: declining enrollment, which reduces revenue under the state's revenue-limit formula, and a reduction in the district's general state aid allocation. Pickett said the district's September membership is down 49 students compared with the prior year and that the district's property value per student is above the state average; both factors affect aid distribution under the state formula.
Board members moved and approved the tax levy and later the full 2025–26 budget by voice votes; minutes and staff reports state "motion carries." The record does not show a roll-call tally; the board adopted both items by voice vote.
District administrators said the budget will appear in the district's monthly financial statements and in the auditor's report that will be posted once the audit is complete. Staff also noted that final tax impacts will vary by municipality and individual property values and may be affected by levy credits.
The board listed follow-up assignments after the meeting, including a request that staff provide group-size detail for subgroups reported in the interim assessment data and the percent of Hispanic students who are English-language learners.
