Wauwatosa board green-lights budget summary for publication, schedules July 20 hearing

The Wauwatosa School Board voted June 22 to publish the district’s 2026–27 budget summary in the newspaper, a statutorily required step ahead of the district’s July 20 budget hearing.

Administration reviewed the next milestones in the budget process: the July 20 budget hearing, a July 1 preliminary state aid estimate (with a final certification on Oct. 15), the third-Friday student enrollment count in September that determines revenue, and an October board vote to set the final property tax levy. The presenter emphasized that publication is a notice step and not the full budget book, which will be available on BoardDocs and discussed at subsequent meetings.

The presenter defined several fund types for board members: the “special projects” fund (primarily special education and student activity accounts), debt service (to repay bonds), capital projects (construction expenses), and the food service fund, which the presenter said must operate to break even and occasionally funds equipment upgrades.

In the May financial report, administration said the district is likely to finish the fiscal year about $1–2 million better than budget (about 1 percent), driven largely by unfilled positions and variable extra-pay costs. The presenter noted several payrolls that occur at year-end and said an unaudited year-end report will be available to the finance committee in July.

Board members asked questions about what appears in the published summary versus the full budget book and requested that a budget calendar and clearer materials be posted to the district website for public reference.

The motion to publish the budget summary was made, seconded and approved on roll call.