District tax levy less than anticipated

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District tax levy for the 2012-13 school year will increase less than anticipated due to a slight increase in state aid.

The tax levy will be $59.08 million, an increase 3.9 percent from 2011-12. The district’s preliminary budget projected a 5.3 percent increase, but MCPASD found out last week it will receive $7.97 million in general aid from the state, which is $1.2 million more than the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction estimated in July. That was the number used in the preliminary budget.

The district received $7.94 million in state aid in 2011-12.

The increase in aid from the original estimate is the result of actual spending last school year being less than budgeted and a favorable change in one of the state aid formula factors.  General aid from the state accounts for less than 12 percent of the district’s operational budget revenue.

The tax levy, without the additional state equalization aid, could have risen to 6.3 percent as a result of increased student enrollment this fall.

The tax levy was approved at the district’s Annual Meeting on Sept. 17. The Finance Committee will review the changes at its meeting on Oct. 22. The Board of Education will discuss the new levy at a special meeting on Oct. 31.