As the student population in Wisconsin has diminished, you've noticed that the school taxes have not diminished. And you've heard 1,001 excuses, too; first off 'the State doesn't give us enough money,' but in fact the State's school expenditures have increased substantially over 10 years. Next there's the 'you can't reduce classroom personnel because there's 2 less students in the classroom' excuse. Actually, you can--if you jiggle which school those kids go to, and then juggle those little bodies to subtract one whole classroom.
But that sort of stuff can't be done, right?
Wrong, Taxpaying Sucker-Breath!! In Waukesha......
...Darren Clark, the district's chief financial officer, said a roughly 2% decline – the equivalent of 220 to 250 students per yard – will hold on average for the next four to five years....
It's down about 6% Statewide in the last decade. Just like your school tax, right?/sarc
The really important thing--what allows taxes to go down, not up-up-up--is debt.
...While Clark said enrollment is the "driver of school finance," he also said there is reason to be optimistic.
"We will be debt free in a year. We’re the seventh-largest school district in the state, and to have no tax or approved debt on the books is a really a unique thing," he said....
"Now we’ll be debt free, and the tax levy will go down significantly if the next state budget allows it," he said.
No debt!
Whadda concept, Pewaukee!
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