State Equalization Aid To WFB Increased, Resulting In A Lower Tax

WHITEFISH BAY, WI— At the Annual Meeting on September 2nd, the public voted to approve Whitefish Bay’s recommended 2020- 21 estimated tax levy of $22,403,693, which was based on the state-regulated revenue limit within the school funding formula, according to Dr. John W. Thomsen, District Administrator. This represented a projected 0.84% increase for the Whitefish Bay 2020-21 property tax levy, Dr. Thomsen explained in his November newsletter.

As of October 15, school districts were informed of the exact level of state aid and other funds being increased or decreased in their budgets. A very simplistic way to think about school funding: picture a full circle, with one portion of the funding circle coming from property taxes and the other portion of the funding circle coming from state equalization aid. If state equalization aid into Whitefish Bay increases, then the property tax portion of the circle will decrease, but if state equalization aid into Whitefish Bay decreases, then property taxes will increase … it always remains that full funding circle.

Since the state equalization aid into Whitefish Bay is higher than what the District projected at the Annual Meeting, the Whitefish Bay School Board now approved a lower tax levy than anticipated in early September. Whitefish Bay’s property tax levy will be $1,054,888 less than anticipated, or $21,348,805. Therefore, the Whitefish Bay 2020-21 property tax levy will reflect a 3.91% decrease from last year.

Please keep in mind, Whitefish Bay is just one of several entities on your full property tax bill. Other entities include: Milwaukee County Technical College, and your local municipality(ies). Additionally, $117,031 of the property taxes collected in Whitefish Bay School’s name go to private schools through vouchers and federal grants.