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West Allis-West Milwaukee board previews 2026–27 budget, projects small tax-levy dip while flagging special-education uncertainty
Summary
At a June 8 workshop the board heard that the district expects a roughly 1.5% drop in its tax levy for 2026–27 but warned that unsettled state special-education funding could cost the district roughly $3 million under certain scenarios; the board set next steps for finalizing the preliminary budget.
Mr. Norris, presenting the district’s financial-stability workshop, told the West Allis-West Milwaukee School Board on June 8 that while some revenue items are known for the 2026–27 fiscal year, uncertainty in state action could materially affect the district's bottom line. "The good news is tonight is we're in a year or two of a biennial," he said, then walked the board through revenue assumptions, insurance projections and spending commitments.
Norris said the district is conservatively budgeting special-education reimbursements at about 40 percent of eligible costs — a figure based on last year's actuals — and that a recently negotiated state package that failed to pass would have increased district aid substantially. "This agreement would have increased our school district's budget about $3 million," he said, noting districts are watching any post-election negotiations closely and will ask that any later deals be no worse than current projections.
On local tax impact, Norris said the district's projected mill rate would fall from about 0.818 this year to roughly 0.767 under current assumptions if equalized property values increase by 5 percent. He emphasized the more important metric for taxpayers is the tax levy itself, which the district projects to decline by about 1.5 percent from roughly $57 million to a little over $56 million.
Norris outlined other assumptions driving the preliminary budget: an approved compensation model with built-in salary increases; a planning assumption of a 15 percent rise in health-insurance costs and 5 percent for dental; a $500,000 estimate for the district's school-transformation line; and roughly $1 million anticipated for transfers of service due to rising special-education enrollment. To meet these commitments staff plan to use a $1.25 million committed fund-balance allocation this year, a line item Norris said is planned for several years as one-time funding phases out.
The board heard that next steps include a joint committee meeting on June 15 to address recreation and financial-stability matters, a preliminary budget approval expected in mid-July, and the district's annual public hearing and final certification in September. "Health insurance renewal, staffing, hiring' these are the short-term priorities," Norris said.
The presentation drew no substantive questions, and the board was scheduled to revisit the preliminary budget at its June 22 meeting with potential action later in the summer.
