By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
The Burlington Area School District will hold its annual meeting Monday at 8 p.m. in the Burlington High School auditorium.
BASD Superintendent Peter Smet said Tuesday that he expects the turnout to be about what it was last year. Last year’s meeting – which certifies the tax levy for the year – saw an overwhelming majority of the electors (153-3) approve the levy.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Smet, who said he would give a superintendent’s report about the updating of the strategic plan.
BASD Business Manager Ruth Schenning will also give the treasurer’s report on last year.
Electors will then get a chance to certify the levy. The levy this year is set at $20.99 million – about $423,000 more than last year, or about a 2 percent increase.
Smet did warn, though, that this budget would likely be one of the last ones that will be relatively “easy” for the district. The biennial state budget has not allowed for much in terms of state aid increases, and the situation isn’t expected to change.
While the district has realized cost savings in some areas, there are few tools left to stave off costs that will rise simply due to inflation.
“All school districts in the state of Wisconsin are going to be in a very difficult situation,” Smet said. “Very little new money. It’s going to be hard to keep up with inflationary increases.
“It’s going to be hard in budget deliberations in the next few years,” he added.
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