APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – With a budget of nearly $244 million, Appleton school board members say they need more state help to account for challenges like high costs and staffing shortages.
“We’re going to need an increase in the revenue limit,” Appleton School Board Treasurer James Bowman said. “This revenue limit freeze and current budget is a major problem for us along other districts. So, we really need the legislature to act on that.”
In the 2022 fiscal year, the district had a positive fund balance. District officials say less state funding and inflation will put them at a net loss in the upcoming year, so they will balance the budget by spending money carried over from previous, positive years.
Board President Kay Eggert said it’s a situation the district would prefer to avoid.
“This is what we need to do this year to maintain services for our students, and we do have an excess of fund balance. We can conservatively spend that money, but this is not a precedent moving forward.”
The district’s Executive Director of Finance Holly Burr said it’s a unique year for the district. They put together two separate budgets — one for each potential result of a referendum vote in November.
“The only difference in these two budgets and levy amounts is for future debt payment. All the rest of the budget is exactly the same.”
Discussion included the overall lack of funding, especially in supporting special education. The revenue limit for the district stayed the same as last year.
Board member James Bowman said the district doesn’t get enough help to account for the needs of students.
“That’s a lot of money that we’re taking out of funds that should be used for curriculum for kids in general. We’re taking that out because we’re underfunded by the state for special ed.”
The district has also dealt with a drop in enrollment totals since 2016, although Burr reported a slight increase at the start of this academic year.
