Posted: June 24, 2009

School Board President Dennis Griffin calls the 2009-2010 preliminary budget a compromise.

"It maintains the integrity of the programs but reduces the tax levy," Griffin said.

The balanced $20,273,223 spending plan, a reduction of $1,486,070 from the 2008-2009 budget, came about through reductions in all departments in the district, including the elimination of an assistant principal.

Although the district could under state law adopt a 14-plus percent levy increase, Griffin said the anticipated levy will be an increase in the 4 percent range.

Ron Kundinger, the spokesman for the Brown Deer Citizens for Responsible Government, wanted the board to consider no increase in the levy.

Griffin said the reductions necessary to reach a no-increase levy were not possible.

"We just won't do the job we need to do in our schools with that," he said.

Business consultant Emily Koczela said the district will continue to work on the budget into October. The amount of state aid, enrollment on the third Friday in September and contract negotiations with the local teachers union could, and likely will, change the budget over the summer months. Koczela said the village property valuation and the final cost of large maintenance projects being done in the school district this summer will also factor into the budget that will be brought to the annual meeting Oct. 20. Village residents vote to adopt the levy then.

The budget contains money for raises for teachers, although the district has not revealed the amount, saying it could jeopardize upcoming negotiations with the teachers union.

The vote to adopt the final preliminary budget was unanimous.