By David Fidlin
Correspondent
While it is subject to further refinement as more pieces of information are assembled, residents living within the Waterford Union High School district backed a plan to levy $7.78 million in taxes for the 2015-16 school year.
The levy was one of several items of business taken up by residents during the district’s annual meeting Aug. 24. The figure represents a slight decrease from the $7.80 million levy that was approved by voters at last year’s annual meeting.
During this year’s annual meeting, Superintendent Keith Brandstetter provided an overview of how school budgeting works within WUHS. He described it as a “year-round process.”
The process for the 2015-16 school year is not quite finished. One of the more crucial pieces of information will take place next week, on Friday, Sept. 18, when the district tallies all seated students for the school year and reports the numbers to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
While school districts make assumptions of how many students are enrolled during a particular school year, the reported Sept. 18 enrollment figures ultimately will determine how much WUHS and other districts across the state receive in state funding.
In late October, the WUHS board will adopt a finalized budget and levy and send the certified results to each of the municipal clerks as tax bills are prepared.
In addition to approving the levy, electors attending the annual meeting agreed to increase board members’ compensation for the next year. Each member of the five-person body had been receiving $4,100 annually. The number has been increased by $150 per member, bringing the new figure to $4,250 annually for each member.
The annual meeting also is an opportunity for residents to bring up issues of concern or clarification under an agenda item deemed “new business.” Resident Barbara Finney had inquired about the proposed plans for the new fieldhouse and fitness center, which has a price tag of about $8 million.
The much-ballyhooed expansion, eyed for the west end of WUHS’ building, could include a new fitness center, weight room, aerobics area and a fieldhouse that would be complimented with an indoor track, four full-sized basketball courts and 3,000-person seating accommodations.
At this point, Brandstetter said the board and administrators are dually exploring options for the planned addition, which has been a topic of discussion in recent years as capital improvements enter the equation of budget discussions.
Brandstetter said the district has expressed interest in working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. A new parking lot could be constructed on school grounds in conjunction with the state agency’s planned reconstruction of Highway 20.
While it is subject to change, Brandstetter said the district could hold a referendum early next year — perhaps as soon as the upcoming spring generation election in April – or February if there is a primary.
If all pieces of the puzzle come together, Brandstetter said construction could begin in March 2017 and wrap by fall 2017.
-
-
-
-
-