Superintendent: Mill rate could be lower than promised

District seeks long-term fiscal management
By: 
Miriam Nelson
News Editor

WITTENBERG — If property values in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District continue to climb, residents could pay even less in school property taxes than previously expected.

At the district’s Aug. 26 annual meeting, Superintendent Garrett Rogowski updated district residents and the school board about upcoming budget numbers and how they could affect the amount of taxes collected.

The property value in the district has been consistent at roughly $526 million. Rogowski expects that number to be even higher this year, which will have a positive impact.

“I don’t think I’d be way off in estimating that number to increase to $544 million, which would be great news for our taxpayers” said Rogowski.

The district uses equalized values, which are calculated annually by the Department of Revenue and used to insure statewide fairness and equity in property tax distribution.

Equalized value represents an estimate of a taxation district’s total taxable value. This provides for the fair apportionment of school districts and county levy for each of the municipalities, explained Rogowski.

Changes in equalized value don’t necessarily translate to changes in property value, which is based on assessed value. They are two separate issues.

For the purpose of the annual meeting, the budget is based on estimates rather actual numbers, which will be tabulated and released by the end of October.

Property valuation and enrollment numbers will be provided in September, and numbers for general aid and computer aid will be finalized in October.

“Today we share with our constituents what we think is coming down the pike,” said Rogowski.

There had been a dip in student population between 2011 and 2014, but enrollment has stayed relatively stable since then. Looking forward, it should remain between 75-90 students per grade, according to Rogowski, who is projecting total enrollment to be at 1,140.

He also noted that the student population total is based on a three-year rolling average, so that there isn’t a drastic increase or decrease in total revenue for the school board to work with.

The levy rate over the past six years has been stable, even decreased. The projected rate is actually lower than what residents were paying just five years ago without the referendum, said Rogowski.

If the property rates go up, the mill rate will go down. The state average mill rate for 2018-19 was $9.46 when WBSD was at $8.01. In comparison, in 2017-18 the mill rate for Witt-Birn was $8.15, Tigerton $12.82 and Shawano $9.71.

Compared to the referendum tax impact rate — which Rogowski and board members estimated at $1.39 per $1,000 valuation before the referendum — the rate for 2019-20 is at $1.01 per $1,000 valuation.

Rogowski added that, if property values increase to the $544 million estimate, the rate could decrease by another 30 cents.

A mill rate of $9.35 per $1,000 would mean that someone who owns a home valued at $100,000 would pay $935 per year. The mill rate could be as low as $9.01 if all the numbers come in as expected in October.

“We held true to our promise and stayed below the referendum projection we made during the campaign,” said Rogowski.

He also noted the district maintained financial stability and the board has demonstrated good fiscal management.

The revenue budget for 2018-19 was $13,387,835, and the district actually took in $13,444,056, for a surplus of $56,221. The expenses were budgeted at $13,387,835, but the district only spent $13,352,196 — resulting in a savings of $35,639.

The budget for 2019-20 is $13,717,594.