Appleton Area School District PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Appleton Area School District is facing a $13 million budget deficit, and it’s proposing a referendum to cover it.
On Thursday night, district leaders gathered input from community members.
“The school board is constantly coming to the taxpayer,” said Appleton resident Bill Recker.
A referendum would go before district voters next April and cover six years for $11 million, $13 million or $15 million per year. Annual property taxes would increase by $20 per $100,000 in value for the first option, $36 per $100,000 for the second and $52 per $100,000 for the third.
AASD points to the rising cost of benefits and salaries. Its health care costs alone have risen $12 million in the last three years, officials said.
Meanwhile, Appleton’s spending per student lags behind the state average by $2,000.
Funding per pupil, among 15 biggest districts in Wisconsin (2023-24):
Milwaukee: $24.7k
Madison Metro: $22.3k
Green Bay Area: $19.6k
Sun Prairie Area: $19.5k
Middleton-Cross Plains: $19.0k
Racine: $18.7k
Oshkosh Area: $18.6k
Wausau: $18.5k
Janesville: $17.7k
West Allis: $16.7k
Kenosha: $16.5k
Eau Claire Area: $16.5k
Sheboygan Area: $16.4k
Appleton Area: $16.2k
Waukesha: $16.1k
“We’ve been very fiscally responsible,” Appleton Area School District Superintendent Greg Hartjes. “But we do think that that may be a detriment to our student success.”
He doesn’t see lowering staff salaries as an option, with many teachers already leaving the industry.
“We have less of a pipeline, which means there’s competition for educators, there’s competition for administrators, there’s competition for para-professionals,” said Hartjes.
If a referendum doesn’t pass, up to 150 staff positions would be cut. With about 1,900 employees, that’s roughly 8% of the district employees.
One of two outcomes will happen: either taxes will go up or the district will make cuts. Residents can voice their opinions.
“Do they agree with what we’re asking for?” said Hartjes. “And then, is it affordable?”
If you missed the first input session, AASD will hold another one at the district welcome center on Oneida Street next Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. The district will also send out a survey in November to gather more feedback from residents on a possible referendum before making a final decision in January.
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