High school to present 2013-14 budget Aug. 27

By Patricia Bogumil

Editor

Taxpayers are welcome to voice their opinions and cast their votes on a proposed 2013-14 budget for Waterford Union High School.

The school district’s proposed budget will be presented at an annual meeting being held Tuesday, Aug. 27.

It features a 0.92 percent decrease in the tax levy, which is planned at $7.872 million.

This will be the third year in a row that the WUHS tax levy has dropped, noted Superintendent Keith Brandstetter.

Last year’s levy was budgeted at $7.945 million, which at that time represented a 1 percent drop from a year earlier.

Brandstetter pointed out some key elements to the 2013-14 budget proposal for taxpayers to consider.

• The proposed 2013-14 general fund budget, at $12.258 million, increased by a little more than 1 percent from the $11.896 million budgeted last year.

• A state revenue limit increase of $100 per student allowed the high school’s budget to increase by $107,000 for 2013-14.

• Estimated state aid grew by slightly more than $200,000, Brandstetter said, due to an increase in student enrollment last year.

“This year we expect our enrollment to decrease by about 20 students, which could cause a decrease in state aid next year,” he added.

• Salary increases will be limited, Brandstetter noted, because of a low increase to the state revenue limit.

• Cost-savings were found by changing health insurance providers. The high school also saved about $25,000 on transportation costs by combining bus routes with Fox River Middle School.

• Information on how the proposed drop in the tax levy will impact the tax rate paid by property owners will be calculated this fall, since property values for school districts are not released until Oct. 1.

The school district’s annual meeting begins at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 27, in the Large Group Instruction Room at the high school