D.C. Everest school levy would rise nearly 6% as state aid falls

The D.C. Everest Area School District has put forward a 2026-27 budget that would raise the property tax levy to $27.47 million, a 5.91% increase from $25.94 million, or about $1.53 million more. The district kept the levy at $25.94 million for the previous two years. The article says the main cause is a projected $1.82 million (3%) drop in state revenue to the general fund, which pays for daily operations, bringing it to $58.9 million. Under Wisconsin's revenue limits, districts can use property taxes to replace lost general aid.

The general fund share of the levy would climb about 19%, or $2.77 million, to $17.25 million. A $1.22 million cut in the levy for referendum-approved debt, now $7.77 million, offsets part of that. The levy also includes about $2 million for an energy efficiency project approved in late 2017, and a $450,000 community service levy stays the same. General fund spending would rise 0.6% to $83.35 million, while net spending across all funds would drop 1.1% to $109.81 million. The food service fund is projected to end the year with about $79,000 and to spend roughly $357,000 more than it takes in.

Residents can comment at a budget hearing on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at the district's senior high school in Weston. The annual meeting follows, where attending voters will be asked to set the levy and board salaries. Board members will attend as private citizens, and the district's notice says the board will take no official action. The meeting will be livestreamed. The budget documents do not give a projected tax rate.