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Southern Door County School District approves $15.9 million levy after budget hearing
Summary
At its Sept. 15 annual meeting, electors adopted resolutions authorizing student transportation rules, board per diems and a 2025 tax levy of $15,895,374 after a budget hearing that outlined a projected operating deficit and lower fund balance.
At the Southern Door County School District annual meeting on Sept. 15, electors approved resolutions including a transport-authority resolution under Wisconsin law and a combined 2025 tax levy of $15,895,374, following a budget hearing presented by business manager Heather Kreuter.
The treasurer, Tina Nellis, read unaudited 2024–25 general fund figures showing revenues of $15,898,668 and expenditures of $16,065,507, a net deficit of $166,839 that left an ending fund balance of $1,922,914. “The difference of $166,839 was removed from the fund balance,” Nellis said in the reading of the report.
During the public hearing portion, Kreuter told attendees the district closed last year with a smaller-than-expected deficit compared with earlier projections but faces a projected $460,000 shortfall for the coming year. “If we came in at the $461,000 projected deficit, it would take us down to about 7.6% fund balance,” she said, noting the board’s policy target is higher. Kreuter pointed to drivers including the expiration of ESSER federal funds, rising health and dental insurance costs, and salary pressures.
Three resolutions were taken by voice vote and carried. Clerk Marissa Norton read Resolution A, which authorizes the district board under s.121.542, Wisconsin Statutes, to provide transportation to pupils (including private-school pupils) and to exercise discretion about transporting students living less than two miles from their school. Resolution B set board per diem at $70 per full day (or $35 per half day) and authorized travel and related reimbursements. Resolution C, the tax-levy resolution, directed the clerk to extend a levy of $15,895,374 to the cities, villages and towns in the district and to certify the amount as provided by Wisconsin law.
Where motions were recorded, the meeting transcript notes: Resolution A was moved and seconded (motion recorded as “Motion by Hana, 2nd by Adam”), Resolution B was moved by Adam and seconded by Sam, and Resolution C was moved by Adam and seconded by Sam; each motion carried by voice vote. The report does not record a roll-call tally for those three specific resolutions beyond the voice approvals.
Kreuter also presented a preliminary mill-rate projection of about 6.97 per $1,000 of property value — shown as a projected decrease of roughly $0.56 — emphasizing that projections will change once certified equalized property values are published on Oct. 1 and DPI finalizes equalization aid on Oct. 15. The board is scheduled to formally adopt the budget at its Oct. 20 meeting and has until Nov. 3 to certify the levy with municipalities.
The meeting also approved routine items including waiving the reading of minutes, accepting the minutes and the consent agenda (which included donations and policy updates). Personnel recommendations — multiple hires and coaching appointments — were approved by roll-call vote.
