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Schools

Greendale Schools Erring on Safe Side for 2013-14 Budget

Greendale School District administrators say there are many unknowns in the upcoming state biennial budget debate, so they want to take a cautious approach on making projections for the next district budget.

Greendale School District administrators said Monday they’re taking a very conservative approach to projections as they work to craft a 2013-14 budget proposal.

District business manager Erin Green said the district isn’t planning on seeing a per pupil increase in revenue this year and despite computer projections that show a possible increase of 30 students in the district in the 2013-14 school year, the district will only project for 11.

Although the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is asking for a $250 per pupil increase in the 2013-15 biennial budget the state Legislature will soon undertake, leaders said they don’t think that will happen.

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“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Green said. “We’re staying at zero and that’s probably the worst case scenario.”

Green said salaries in the district are projected to go up by 3 percent next year, but health insurance increase is only expected to be between 4 percent and 6 percent, which is the first time in years the projection has been under a 10 percent increase. All but 50 district staff members are also on high deductible health insurance plans and Green said the district will try to get some of those members to switch plans.

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If there are no changes and the district is able to use the conservative estimates, Green said the district will have a balanced budget and in fact may even have a surplus.

Once the biennial budget proposal comes forth from Gov. Scott Walker sometime in January, Green said they will have a much better understanding of what their finances will look like. Given Republicans have control of both houses of the Legislature, she said there’s little doubt Walker’s proposals will fail.

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