Waukesha board approves $226.7 million 2024–25 budget and lowers levy by 2.47%

The School District of Waukesha Board of Education on Oct. 28 approved the district’s final 2024–25 budget and its tax levy, voting 8–0 on both measures at a special meeting.

The board approved a total-revenue budget of $219,008,849 and total expenditures of $226,725,880, including a required operating transfer of $21,971,912 from Fund 10 to Fund 27, according to the motion the board adopted. The board also approved a tax levy of $79,390,592, which the motion said includes $3,750,000 for the capital expansion fund and $7,900,000 for the debt service fund. Both motions passed on unanimous 8–0 roll-call votes.

The budget vote followed a presentation from Mr. Clark, the district’s finance lead, who outlined key drivers behind the plan. Clark said resident enrollment has fallen since its 2012 peak and put the current figure at "just under 10,600 resident students," a trend he said is broadly shared among Wisconsin districts. He said ESSER (federal coronavirus-relief) funds have been fully spent and that Fund 10…