New London School District board approves $38.3 million 2025—6 budget after public hearing

At its Sept. 10 meeting the New London School District Board of Education approved the district's 2025—6 all-funds budget of $38,313,390 following a public hearing and a roll-call vote.

Joe Marquardt, business services (introduced at the meeting as the district's business-services lead), presented the budget packet and walked the board through key drivers. "The budget projects a 9.5% increase in the tax levy and a 4.3% increase in overall spending," Marquardt said, and he explained that changes in the state biennium budget and revenue-limit rules mean some locally authorized revenue will not be equalized by state aid.

Why it matters: the packet shows the district facing competing pressures — the need to remain competitive on wages and benefits, a decline in enrollment that reduces revenue under the state's revenue-limit formula, and uncertainty about future federal funding streams that had previously supplemented operations. Marquardt noted one bright spot: "We are debt free for 2 years in a row now," which the district staff said helps long-term flexibility.

Key budget details and board discussion

- Special education: Marquardt told the board the biennium changes push categorical special-education aid higher (the packet projects a notable increase to the percentage of eligible costs covered), which reduces the transfer the district must make from Fund 10 to Fund 27; he estimated the transfer could decline from about $3.9 million to roughly $3.4 million under current assumptions.

- Open enrollment and vouchers: Marquardt explained how aid transfers work for open-enrolled students (he cited the current per-student transfer of $8,962 and an estimated increase to $10,102 next year) and said the statewide voucher program represents roughly $1.3 million on the levy for New London; board members asked whether voucher eligibility is income-based and were told that income thresholds apply but exact limits were not available during the meeting.

- Transportation and capital projects: the board discussed adding buses back into the budget (presenter quoted an approximate $140,000 unit cost, net trade-in) and heard that the 2018 referendum authority (about $1.3 million annually) is being used for roofing work. The Bullock Stadium restroom/renovation project is budgeted from capital funds with about $1.4 million allocated in the capital-projects fund, the presenter said.

- Fitness center fundraising: on the Randy Marsh strength-and-conditioning center, the district recorded $107,500 in pledges as a receivable and had billed $32,500 as of the meeting; Marquardt said roughly $63,000 in pledges remained outstanding, including a large single donor pledge.

Board action and votes

The board approved expenditures from the register dated Sept. 3, 2025, and then voted by roll call to adopt the 2025—6 all-funds budget of $38,313,390. The board also approved the Fund 80 levy of $130,000 and approved the Fund 10 tax levy as recorded in the motion (the precise figure was noted in the meeting record; official minutes will carry the exact levy dollar amount). The board subsequently voted to convene in closed session under the cited Wisconsin statute to discuss personnel matters.

What remains: district staff emphasized that several numbers remain estimates until state equalization and the district's third-Friday enrollment count are finalized; officials said final figures will be confirmed after October counts and any needed adjustments will be reflected in official budget documents.

The board moved into a brief regular-meeting agenda and then into the closed session called under state statute; no additional formal policy changes were adopted at the public portion of the meeting.