More than half of Wisconsin public school districts will receive less general aid in the 2015-16 school year than they did for the 2014-15 school year, according to estimates released last week by the Department of Public Instruction.
In Oconto County, one school district — Oconto — is projected to receive more aid, while Gillett, Lena, Oconto Falls and Suring likely will lose aid.
Although the 2015-17 state budget has not been finalized, the most recent version of the biennial budget maintains the same level of general school aid ($4.476 billion) as was appropriated in the 2014-15 fiscal year. Actual aid payments are estimated at $4.346 billion because of statutory reductions for the Milwaukee voucher program and for independent charter schools.
Of the state’s 424 school districts, 55 percent (234) are estimated to receive less general aid in 2015-16, while 44 percent of districts (188) are expected to receive more aid. Two districts have no change in their aid estimate.
With school aid being held at the same level as the prior year, other factors such as property valuation, enrollment and shared costs in the general equalization aid formula impact whether the aid estimate for a district increases or decreases.
State statute requires the department to compute an estimate of the general school aid each public school district will receive for the coming school year by July 1. School personnel use the estimate to complete their annual budgets. On Oct. 15, the department will certify state general aid amounts for 2015-16 based on audited 2014-15 data. Estimated general aid to districts may change.
The department’s July 1 aid estimate does not include per pupil categorical aid, which will be based on student membership from the 2015-16, 2014-15 and 2013-14 school years (third Friday in September count). That aid will be paid in March 2016. The current budget appropriates $127 million for that aid, which is $150 per pupil, the same amount as it was in the 2014-15 fiscal year.
The state Assembly is expected to consider the budget this week.
