Whitefish Bay School Aid Estimated to Drop 10 Percent

State aid to the Whitefish Bay School District will drop a little more than 10 percent based on estimates released Friday by the state Department of Public Instruction.

The district received $10,685,565 in the 2010-11 school year. In 2011-12 the figure is estimated to be $9,602,637 — a decrease of $1,082,928, or 10.13 percent.

The district had expected a $1.3 million reduction in state aid, and an overall $2.1 million shortfall as a result of the revenue limits called for in Gov. Scott Walker's biennial state budget.

Under the , which was unanimously approved for publication at a June 8 meeting, taxes would drop $42 per household, with an overall levy decrease of $273,904 since last year. At the same time, the district would only see a net decrease of 0.6 full time employment positions. 

The loss in state aid would be offset, in large part, by a 4.8 percent cut in salary and benefit costs that totals roughly $1.5 million. The cuts primarily come through salary freezes, increased employee contributions to pension costs and health insurance plan design changes allowed under the budget repair bill.

District administrators and other non-union employees also in the upcoming school year.

The DPI estimates are derived from two areas: the and the relevant school district data from the 2010-11 school year. These include membership, shared costs and property value, according to a press release from the DPI.

Statewide, only 13 of 424 districts are expected to receive more aid in 2011-12.

The actual figures will be certified by DPI on Oct. 15, using school district data from 2011-12.