Greendale Residents Approve New Tax Levy

Nearly 100 people attended the 's Budget Hearing and Annual Meeting in the auditorium on September 19.

The audience was first given a presentation on the 2011-12 school year budget by Erin Green, the Director of Business for the school district.

Green presented the projected tax levy of $13,670,055, which is a .26 percent increase from last year. In addition, Green announced that the mill rate would increase from $12.23 to $12.26 and that projected state aid to the district would be $9,626,648, a decrease of 8.8 percent from last year.

Despite a loss of $903,403 in annual revenue from state aid and the economic downturn, which will result in a drop of $628 in spending per student, Green expressed satisfaction that the district's Fund (10) Balance is projected to remain level at $7.1 million and says the district is financially stable at this time.

She went on to say that it is getting harder every year to balance the budget due to changing laws and demographics, however the school district is committed to prioritizing student learning above all else. She said the district will strive for a sustainable mode of operation within today's budget constraints and fiscal realities. 

During the annual meeting portion of the evening, the audience heard a presentation by Superintendent William Hughes.

Hughes gave the audience an update on new things happening in the district, including a roll-out of 300 new iPads at Greendale High School to get increased technology into the hands of students, an expansion in the school calendar year and a new partnership between the district and Alverno College.

Hughes said the district is hoping to involve the community in its strategic planning processes to create a vision for the future.

The meeting ended with a unanimous vote by residents to approve the tax levy. The levy can be adjusted by the school board on or before November 1 and is certified to the in early October.