County finance staff warn of $337,000 shortfall for special-education cooperative

Walworth County Finance staff told the committee on July 23 that state aid and related reimbursements to the special-education cooperative serving three counties came in lower than expected, producing a projected shortfall of about $337,000 across three revenue sources.

"So we're looking at a total of 337,000 that we are now short between 3 items," Finance staff member Jessica said while reviewing the Children's with Disabilities Education Board projection. Committee members discussed options including local fundraising, tuition strategies and legislative advocacy; staff noted prior efforts to increase tuition capacity and adjust staffing to accept tuition students as one revenue lever. No formal county-level appropriation or amendment was proposed at the meeting.

The committee and staff discussed longer-term remedies for the 2027 budget. Jessica and other members noted state-level funding efforts earlier this year that would have increased special-education funding failed in the Legislature by narrow margins, and committee members said they would consider a resolution or outreach to the Wisconsin Counties Association and state representatives. Committee members did not vote on any new county appropriation during the meeting.