Brown Deer schools looking at 15% less in state aid

Brown Deer - The Brown Deer School District will need to offset a roughly 15% decrease in state aid in the coming year, according to estimates from the state Department of Instruction.

The district is estimated to receive about $4.5 million in state aid in the 2012-2013 budget year, down nearly $800,000 from the approximate $5.3 million the district received in the 2011-2012 year.

To compensate for that loss in revenue, the district would need to increase its share of the property tax by 6%, which district Director of Finance Emily Koczela said won't be the case.

"I've been instructed by the (school) board to come in as close to zero percent as possible," said Koczela.

She said that the district will look for savings in the maintenance budget as a result of the referendum construction project and a concentrated effort over the last five years on physical plant management.

Certain employee groups will also be required to increase their contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System.

Koczela said making up the lost revenue won't be a matter of finding one large item to cut or an overarching solution.

"I'm going to look for a little bit in a lot of places," said Koczela.

The state aid estimate will play an important role in discussions on the 2012-2013 budget, which will need to be finalized and approved in the fall.

- Michael Meidenbauer