WGSD budget may ask for more tax dollars
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Taxpayers in the Waterford Graded School District might see a 3 percent increase in taxes, based on preliminary data shared earlier this month.
Superintendent Chris Joch briefly discussed the process of building the district’s 2013-14 budget at the School Board’s Personnel and Finance Committee meeting on Aug. 5.
The move to ask taxpayers for additional dollars comes out of necessity, Joch explained.
“I don’t know what else we can cut,” he said. “We’ve frozen, and we’ve reduced.”
There are still a number of variables at play before Waterford Graded has a minted budget and accompanying property tax levy, which will eventually be sent to municipal clerks in the fall as tax bills are prepared.
One of the most crucial pieces of data – official enrollment counts taken Friday, Sept. 20 – will determine how much money the district receives in state aid, which is Waterford Graded’s second largest source of income.
But based on the forecasting done to date, Joch said a tax increase would be necessary to shore up projected deficits and maintain the existing programs and staffing levels that have been built into the budget for the upcoming school year.
If the request moves forward, Joch said the additional tax dollars would be distributed in a two-pronged approach: 2.5 percent of the increase would be applied to the district’s general operating fund that supports staffing, programs and other daily functions throughout the school year. The remaining 0.5 percent increase would go toward paying down debt.
Mary Stapenek, the district’s bookkeeper and office manager, noted that the district had refinanced its debt, but monthly payments have been higher. Additional taxpayer dollars will assist in tackling down the debt service.
Final numbers are still being worked through on the proposed 2013-14 budget.
Earlier this year, as planning for the 2013-14 budget picked up steam, the district made minor trims to its personnel budget, particularly with support staffing. But Joch emphasized all programs that were in place last year are returning for the 2013-14 school year.
During the Aug. 5 budget discussion, several School Board members criticized state officials for claiming per-pupil spending would increase by $150. But the state has only contributed an additional $75 per student, and each individual school district has the ability to then tax an additional $75 per student.
“In reality, we’re only getting half of what (the state) says we’re getting,” said board member Doug Schwartz said.
Like many districts across the state, Waterford Graded has been grappling with declining student enrollment in recent years. The ongoing trend has resulted in less revenue, while a variety of costs have continued to increase.
Residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed budget and levy during the district’s annual meeting in October. Waterford Graded has until late October to finalize its budget and set the tax levy.
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Why not minimize the superintendent salary? Why make “trims” to support staffing who are well-underpaid for their teacher-like roles instead of taking some of the cut yourself Christopher Joch?
You are still overstaffed in the aid positions. Start eliminating them.
Who suffers then? The students. Who suffers with overpaid lousy administrators? Taxpayers.
Enough of the infantile rhetoric….the only people who will suffer are the teachers who have to work a bit harder.
More savings would also come from having teachers actually teach a full day of classes – you could eliminate additional teachers. For example, at woodfield, do we need two band teachers and a fifth grade music teacher, and a general music and district orchestra teacher….really..at one school!
Really…we need school counselors in grade school – NOT!
There is plenty of fat still to cull.
I suggest you do some research.
The fifth grade band teacher is only at 50% employment status for the 3 graded buildings, thus they are not only at Woodfield. That leaves the other full-time band teacher to service 6th grade band students in the three elementary buildings, in addition to 7th & 8th grade band at Fox River. Keep in mind band is held multiple times per week, also each student has an individual lesson/group lessons multiple times per week. Yes, Woodfield has a general music teacher as do each of the other buildings. That same Woodfield general music teacher is the orchestra teacher for each the other 3 buildings as well. What were you saying about teachers needing to work harder?
WGSD decided to replace a school counselor after one resigned this summer. School counselors must have importantance within the school district that they decided to fill the vacancy.
There is some BIG news going on with the WGSD. Parents and community are very interested. More than 2,500 page views in 30 hours time at the wgsdmeetings.com web site. Contact the author for more info.
Thank you!