BRODHEAD - Brodhead taxpayers won't be getting any big surprises when it comes time to pay for schools next year, but they won't have a lot of wiggle room either.
The school board approved budget numbers at its annual meeting Monday. The budget for Funds 10 and 27, which encompasses most of the district's operational expenses, will be $12,028,895. That represents an increase of about 2.86 percent from last year, Superintendent Chuck Deery said.
The budget will be $1,016,097 for debt service, which is "down just a little, about $8,000," from last year.
The total tax levy will increase about 6.13 percent to $3,387,683.
The tax levy is increasing proportionally higher than the actual budget because declining enrollment means less state aid is coming into the district. Enrollment is down 117 students in the last three years and is expected to decrease another 50 this coming year, Deery said. While he's not sure what is prompting lower enrollment, he said it's a problematic trend being seen in other area schools.
"It does have big impact," he said. "It reduces state aid."
The district is estimating a tax rate for school purposes of $8.12 per $1,000 of valuation, down slightly from $8.13 last year. Numbers won't be finalized until enrollment and valuation information is complete in October, Deery said.
"It's one of the tightest budgets we've put together," Deery said.
The district was able to save some money by eliminating one elementary section without significantly affecting class size.
However, energy costs could play havoc with the budget.
"If energy costs keep soaring the way they are, we'll have a hard time staying within (the budget)," he said.
The school board approved budget numbers at its annual meeting Monday. The budget for Funds 10 and 27, which encompasses most of the district's operational expenses, will be $12,028,895. That represents an increase of about 2.86 percent from last year, Superintendent Chuck Deery said.
The budget will be $1,016,097 for debt service, which is "down just a little, about $8,000," from last year.
The total tax levy will increase about 6.13 percent to $3,387,683.
The tax levy is increasing proportionally higher than the actual budget because declining enrollment means less state aid is coming into the district. Enrollment is down 117 students in the last three years and is expected to decrease another 50 this coming year, Deery said. While he's not sure what is prompting lower enrollment, he said it's a problematic trend being seen in other area schools.
"It does have big impact," he said. "It reduces state aid."
The district is estimating a tax rate for school purposes of $8.12 per $1,000 of valuation, down slightly from $8.13 last year. Numbers won't be finalized until enrollment and valuation information is complete in October, Deery said.
"It's one of the tightest budgets we've put together," Deery said.
The district was able to save some money by eliminating one elementary section without significantly affecting class size.
However, energy costs could play havoc with the budget.
"If energy costs keep soaring the way they are, we'll have a hard time staying within (the budget)," he said.