Wausau committee recommends preliminary 2024–25 budget that shows roughly $1.5 million general-fund shortfall

A district presenter (speaker 4) told the Education Operations Committee on May 20 that the preliminary 2024–25 budget is built on multiple assumptions and will change as updated data arrive, but it gives the district authority after July 1 to pay bills and payroll until the final budget is adopted.

The presenter listed assumptions used in the model: a 3% salary increase, a 4% health-insurance increase across the board, a revenue-limit increase of $325 per pupil and a special-education reimbursement rate of 33%. He said the budget continues a debt defeasance strategy used in prior years.

Fund-level figures shown to the committee included: Fund 10 (general operating fund) — $115,444,778 in expenses and $113,921,231 in revenues (roughly a $1,500,000 deficit); Fund 27 (special education) — $19,693,979 in expenses and revenues; Fund 39 (capital/debt) — $22,275,000 in both expense and revenue; Fund 50 (food service) expense $5,208,448 and revenue $5,139,500; Fund 80 (community service/SRO) $762,000 in both expense and revenue. The presenter also noted the budget reflects a forthcoming SRO contract that will be paid from Fund 80.

Committee members asked how community donations for student meals are applied (the presenter explained donations are used to wipe negative meal-account balances, starting with students eligible for free and reduced-price meals). One board member thanked nutrition staff for their work.

The committee moved to approve the preliminary budgets as presented to allow expenditures to be committed after July 1; the motion passed with a recorded abstention in open session.

What happens next: The recommended preliminary budget will be revisited as updated enrollment, equalized valuation and pupil counts become available and then brought to the full board for final adoption later in the budget calendar.