General aid estimates for schools released
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released the general aid estimates for public school districts July 1, and it looks like every school district in Shawano, Oconto and Menominee counties — save one — can expect an increase in state funding.
Suring is one of 124 school districts in Wisconsin that can expect to see a decrease in funding for the 2024-25 school year. The district received $53,667 in general aid during the 2023-24 school year, but that will be dropping 15% for the coming year to $45,617. According to a DPI press release, 15% is the maximum decrease school districts can receive in general aid funding.
Pulaski Community School District will be seeing the largest dollar increase out of the three-county districts, getting $4,429,831 more, a 14.77% increase, to bring the 2024-25 amount to $34,431,502.
Menominee Indian School District can expect the largest percentage increase, as its general aid will jump up 39.48%, a $2,802,217 bump, so that the district will receive $9,900,812 in the coming year.
Lena School District will see the smallest increase among the three counties, getting only $22,773, a 0.67% hike that will give the district $3,441,431 for the 2024-25 school year.
Shawano School District is estimated to receive an almost $2 million bump, up 12.88%, increasing the general aid from $15,144,247 to $17,094,228.
On the west side of Shawano County, the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District will see a modest jump of 8.39%, giving the district $9,509,115 in general aid.
In the heart of Oconto County, the Oconto Falls School District will only see a 3.76% hike for aid, giving the district $13,948,100 for the next school year.
General aid for school districts can change based on three factors — property valuation, enrollment and shared costs. Many school districts are seeing their student counts drop, but in some cases, it has been offset by incredible boosts to property values.
The final certification for general school aid comes out Oct. 15, once the official student count is done the third Friday in September and state property values are released in early October.
According to DPI, the total general school aid for the coming school year is $5.58 billion, a 4.2% increase totaling about $234.3 million. However, the DPI warned in the press release that there could be more volatility in these estimates due to the delays in financial data reporting by Milwaukee Public Schools.
General school aids are main source of state support for public schools, offsetting municipal property taxes under state-imposed revenue limits.
BY THE NUMBERS
| District | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | $ change | % change |
| Bonduel | $5,466,410 | $4,710,401 | $756,009 | 16.05% |
| Bowler | $4,061,772 | $3,432,644 | $629,128 | 18.33% |
| Gillett | $5,032,975 | $4,204,843 | $828,132 | 19.69% |
| Gresham | $2,804,142 | $2,471,262 | $332,880 | 13.47% |
| Lena | $3,441,431 | $3,418,658 | $22,773 | 0.64% |
| Marion | $3,939,757 | $3,386,425 | $553,432 | 16.34% |
| Menominee Indian | $9,900,812 | $7,098,595 | $2,802,217 | 39.48% |
| Oconto | $8,604,989 | $8,303,808 | $301,181 | 3.63% |
| Oconto Falls | $13,948,100 | $13,443,204 | $504,896 | 3.76% |
| Pulaski | $34,431,502 | $30,001,671 | $4,429,831 | 14.77% |
| Shawano | $17,094,228 | $15,144,247 | $1,949,981 | 12.88% |
| Suring | $45,617 | $53,667 | -$8,050 | -15% |
| Tigerton | $2,192,506 | $2,073,024 | $119,482 | 5.76% |
| Wittenberg-Birnamwood | $9,509,115 | $8,773,412 | $735,703 | 8.39% |
Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Category:
715-526-2121 | 1464 E. Green Bay St., Shawano, WI 54166
