Posted: Aug. 11, 2009

Menomonee Falls — School district residents approved a 9.1 percent property tax levy increase for the 2009-10 school year during a tumultuous annual meeting Monday.

The vote came after a failed attempt by some residents to send the budget back to district administrators for look for ways to reduce the impact on taxpayers.

"Maybe we can sharpen that pencil," said David Kroeninger, the resident who made the request. "Go back to the drawing board."

After a paper ballot vote, the result was 47-15 against sending the budget back to administrators. While voting, many residents expressed confusion about what a "yes" or "no" vote meant.

School Board President Kathy Shurilla, who chaired the meeting, then called for a voice vote for the approval of the levy. A few people dissented.

Kroeninger requested the vote be redone on paper, or at least a record of those voting be creating to verify residency. After shouts of "no," discussion on the issue was closed.

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The $52.5 million budget is a 0.27 percent, or $142,000, increase from the 2008-09 budget. The $37.2 million levy is a $3.1 million increase.

The district is expecting a 15 percent decrease, or $2.3 million, in state aid, the second-largest source of income for districts, behind property taxes.

District officials said the loss in state aid is the reason for the hike in taxes.

"If we don't use the full funding authority this year . . . it is going to affect future years," Director of Business Service Jeffrey Gross said.

He said the levy increase had been set at 3 percent prior to the loss in state aid.

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The loss of state aid was the second hit the district experienced from the state this year. After making about $2.4 million in staffing and other cuts by the end of March to balance the budget, the district in May discovered it would receive about $325,000 less than projected from the state in per-pupil funding. District officials again balanced the budget by finding savings in insurance and utilities costs.

The staff cuts include 24 full-time equivalent teachers, one administrator, four FTE administrative assistants, six FTE educational assistants and two FTE custodians. The board also approved other cuts to athletics and supplies.

Officials say the staff cuts are the result of decreases in enrollment, the closing of Thomas Jefferson Middle School and increased class sizes, primarily at Menomonee Falls High School.

Gross is projecting a $1.6 million deficit in the 2010-11 school and a $2 million deficit the year after that.

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The tax rate for Menomonee Falls residents in the school district is expected to increase 91 cents, or 9.1 percent, from $10.01 of assessed value to $10.92 per $1,000 of assessed value. The district includes Butler, Lannon and most of Menomonee Falls.

If property values remain the same, the owner of a home assessed at $250,000 in Menomonee Falls would pay $227 more, or $2,729, in school taxes.

"We know this is a tough time," Superintendent Keith Marty said of the economic climate. "Let's commit to working together. We have to provide a quality education."

The levy could change after the Third Friday in September counts are tabulated and property values and state aid are certified Oct. 15.