Budget

The West Bend School District's annual budget is a financial plan that allows for the implementation of its educational programs and aligns with its Continuous Improvement Plan. The budget is balanced each year through a year-long process and carefully managed with measured allocation of resources in light of State of Wisconsin mandated revenue limits. The budget is presented to the West Bend School Board each year for approval and modified with the board's approval as necessary. It complies with all current federal and state school finance regulations.

Contacts

Jennifer Wimmer
Superintendent
262-335-5435
jwimmer@wbsd-schools.org

Andrew Sarnow
Asst. Superintendent of Business and Operations
262-335-5403
asarnow@wbsd-schools.org

Julie Marx
Comptroller/Controller
262-335-5428
jmarx@wbsd-schools.org

Public School Financing in Wisconsin

What is the Total Revenue Limit Authority? Or the Revenue Limit Tax Levy? Funding for public schools in Wisconsin can get complicated...But we have broken it down for you in the brochure below. Click on the image to review the detailed brochure.

To learn more about school funding, check out this video developed by the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials and the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association along with Captivate Media + Consulting.

2024-2025 Budget

Budget Publication (published in the Washington County Daily News)

Budget Hearing Presentation

Budget Hearing and Annual Meeting Agenda, Etc.

Budget Timeline

Planning for a yearly school district budget begins right after the previous budget is approved. Review the yearly West Bend School District budget timeline for the highlights of what happens and when.

Mill Rate Information

Once the total tax levy is determined, it is divided by the total equalized property values across all municipalities within the district. The quotient is multiplied by $1,000 to determine the final mill rate for each taxable property in the school district. After passage of the facilities referendum in November 2024, the mill rate for 2025 is $6.14.

mill rate history chart

Bond Rating
The bond rating agency S&P Global Ratings has given the West Bend School District the AA- rating and stable outlook.

Financial Planning Strategy - Debt

As part of its long-term financial planning strategy, the West Bend School Board and district have actively managed the debt repayment from the 2009 and 2012 referendums. The school board’s strategy for debt repayments resulted in several positive developments:

Refinancing of bonds to gain a lower interest rate in summer 2021 resulted in $130,000 interest cost savings
Levied monies will be placed in an interest-bearing account, otherwise known as defeasance, for accelerated repayment while maintaining a mill rate among the lowest in the state

These strategies have resulted in reduced interest costs and the opportunity to complete taxing for the debt in 14 years (2009 referendum) and 11 years (2012 referendum) rather than the original 20 years that were estimated at the time of the referenda. By completing taxing for the debt in 2023, the district saved approximately $1,170,000 in interest expense. The school district is no longer taxing for this debt and has the funds in an account to be used to pay off the debt in 2026.

Audited Financial Reports

Audited Financial Statements - 2023