This article is co-authored with Beth Steinke, School District of Athens business office manager, who lends her depth of knowledge, and expertise regarding Wisconsin school finance. We recognize how very timely the opportunity is to communicate information about the school district budget with the members of our community.
The school district financial calendar spans July 1 - June 30, and is used as a guide to keep the Board of Education informed of the financial condition of the District. During monthly school board meetings, the business office manager and superintendent review financial statements, provide school finance education, and share a summary of the school district operational costs.
Voters in the School District of Athens approved the District’s non-recurring operational referendum that was on the April 4, 2023 spring election ballot. The measure allowed the District to exceed its state-set revenue limits by $1.67 million in 2023-24 and by $1.2 million for each of the next three years. We are currently in year three, of the four year referendum, and are pleased to provide an updated financial forecast for this fiscal year.
The Wisconsin school funding formula is complex. School district membership data are used to establish revenue limits, which together with general school aid, determine the maximum property tax levies that school boards can impose. Approximately 80% of the general fund’s operating revenue comes from a combination of property taxes, state equalization aid, and categorical aid.
The School District of Athens has experienced an increase in membership counts the past four years. Membership is based upon the September third Friday count of the students in attendance on that day, and includes open enrolled students in and out of the district, which is prorated. Revenue limits are based upon a three-year “rolling” average of September membership. The current three year full-time average membership count is 469.
On October 1st, property values were released by the Department of Revenue, and on October 15th, the Department of Public Instruction released certified aid figures. The general school aid amounts for school districts are calculated using membership counts, and year-end financial data from the previous school year. This information is necessary to determine the mill rate, and establish the tax levy.
This year, property values increased by approximately 14%, which in turn decreased the district's 2025-2026 mill rate to $7.87. On Monday, October 27th the Athens Board of Education approved the 2025-2026 tax levy of $3,772,435. The overall levy has been stable since 2023-2024. This revenue allows the District to maintain programming for all students, repay debt, invest in technology, and re-establish the fund balance.
A fund balance is the difference between a district’s assets (such as cash and investments) and liabilities (such as outstanding expenses). Wisconsin school districts receive property tax and state aid payments at different times throughout the year, which causes significant fluctuations in cash flow. Without an adequate fund balance, the district would need to borrow short-term cash to pay bills and meet payroll. These reserves cover unexpected costs and stabilize cash flow, because funding is not consistently received throughout the year.
In August 2025, the Board of Education approved a fund balance policy requiring that the Fund 10 balance remain at or above 18% of annual expenditures to ensure a stable financial position.
Rebuilding a healthy, stable, and sustainable school district budget requires time and careful attention. Through our continued collective efforts and a conservative budgeting approach, we can achieve our long-term financial goals. We invite you to attend our monthly school board meetings to learn more about the financial operations of the School District of Athens.