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Cuba City School District explains the tax levy and what it means for local taxpayers
Summary
Superintendent Aaron Olsen and business manager Heather Drestler walk through what a school tax levy is, how Wisconsin law and property values shape mill rates, and how operating and debt levies and recent referendums affect district funding.
Aaron Olsen, superintendent of Cuba City School District, and Heather Drestler, the district's school business manager, offered a plain-language explanation of the school's tax levy and how it affects district funding and local taxpayers.
The two said the tax levy is the amount the district is authorized to collect from local property taxes each year and that the money supports daily operations and long-term expenses such as staff, student programs and building projects. "The tax levy is the amount of money our district is allowed to collect from local property taxes each year," Olsen said, adding the funds "help run our schools and pay long-term expenses." Drestler joined him in emphasizing the district tries to use levies to promote financial stability rather than sudden cuts.
They said the school board approves the levy, but "Wisconsin law" sets revenue limits that guide how much the district can raise. According to the presenters, the state reviews factors such as student enrollment and prior spending to determine a revenue limit that shapes the allowable levy.
Olsen and Drestler also addressed a common source of confusion: a higher levy does not automatically translate into higher taxes for every homeowner. "That's because your school tax bill depends on the total school levy, the total value of all the property in the district, and the value of your home or land," Drestler said, explaining that if overall property values rise across the district, the mill rate can fall even when the levy increases.
The presenters described the levy as split into two parts: the operating levy for day-to-day costs such as salaries, supplies, utilities, transportation and programs, and the debt levy for long-term building costs and borrowed funds. They said recent community referendums provided additional funding for capital projects (building improvements and new learning spaces) and for operating needs, which the presenters said helps preserve operating funds for ongoing programs.
The video framed the levy as a tool for stability. "A well-planned levy helps make sure our schools stay strong, avoid sudden cuts, and maintain quality for students," Olsen said, adding that balancing the levy with property values and clear budgeting is intended to respect taxpayers while serving students.
The presenters recapped the main points and encouraged the community to learn about levies and mill rates so residents can participate in school finance conversations. The transcript includes a numeric line reporting the district's levy for the "2425" school year as "about $5,29,69"; that figure appears garbled in the transcript and the exact levy amount was not specified in the video. The presentation closed with a note that a future video will explain the mill rate in greater detail.
The district delivered the information as an educational video rather than as a formal board action; no motions or votes were recorded in the presentation.
