School Taxes Drop With Increased State Aid

Having received more state aid than expected, the Whitefish Bay School District used the extra money from the state to lower property tax bills for residents.

In September, Whitefish Bay voters approved a $21.8 million tax levy that would have increased taxes by $142 over last year for the owner of a home assessed at $400,000.

The district had conservatively budgeted for a $269,000 decrease in state aid this year, but now that the state has certified a $479,260 state aid increase, the district had an additional $748,260 in its pocket to help out taxpayers.

As a result, the School Board Tuesday certified an amended $21.1 million tax levy that cuts an additional $156 from the tax bill for a $400,000 home.

The levy amounts to a roughly 0.2 percent levy decrease from last year, and a $12 decrease in taxes for the owner of a $400,000 home.

Last year, the school taxes on that home were $94 lower than the previous year.

When residents voted on the tax levy in September, Shawn Yde, the district's business manager, warned the budget numbers could shift as the district receives final enrollment numbers and state aid totals.

As the state aid numbers shift, so to does the tax levy. Yde acknowledged that he was conservative in budgeting for a $269,000 decrease in state aid, even though the Department of Public Instruction later estimated a $208,000 increase in state aid. On Oct. 15, the state certified a $479,260 increase in state aid.

Yde said the increased state aid can mostly be attributed to the district's recent enrollment growth.