Campbellsport School District
The Campbellsport School District Board of Education reviewed the proposed 2025-26 District Budget at their October 6 meeting. The recently approved Wisconsin state budget included no increases to general school aid for the next two years and shifted the school funding burden to local taxpayers.
State legislators did not increase state general aid and reduced equalized aid to public schools. That action, coupled with rising costs and declining enrollments across the state, will require most school districts, including Campbellsport, to raise the local property tax levy just to maintain current levels of classroom instruction, student programs, staffing and operational needs.
Kent Ritchie, Director of Finance, explained the 2025-27 State Biennial Budget created several challenges impacting the 2025-26 Campbellsport School District budget:
- Legislators decreased state aid by 3.75% and transferred that to local taxpayers for a 3.75% increase. This will increase local property taxes by an estimated 5%. The local revenue limit was increased so local taxpayers could absorb the additional cost. Originally, state aid and the revenue limit were designed to work together and reduce local property taxes. When legislators increase one without the other, the tax burden is shifted to one or the other. In this case, legislators shifted the burden to local taxpayers. If the state budget provided inflationary increases to both, local taxpayers would see a lower and a more manageable impact on their taxes.
- In addition, declining enrollments, a statewide trend, results in decreased equalized aid for school districts. Campbellsport School District enrollments are predicted to decline the next three years through 2028-29, then level off and increase after that.
- Legislators increased private/parochial choice voucher per pupil payments at a higher rate. These increased payments go through the CSD budget and are funded through local property taxes. Public schools are also required to provide and pay for private/parochial school special education services, federal Title services and busing/transportation costs.
- Special Education. The state budget did increase funding for special education. We certainly appreciate that increase as we make sure our students who need support and accommodations receive them. Unfortunately, state and federal funding, even with the increase, falls far short to meet special education needs and higher costs. Approximately $1.6 million will be transferred out of the general fund 10 to the special education fund 27 to cover the shortfall. This underfunded cost is also transferred to local funding sources.
- All of the above are estimated to result in an 8-9% property tax levy increase. State legislators are now funding three school systems: public (serves 84% of Wisconsin students), private/parochial (13%), and non-public charter (1%). (The remaining students are home-schooled.) It is unsustainable for state legislators to continue to fund three school systems and pass that cost on to local taxpayers.
Wisconsin’s school funding formula and its impact on our district can be difficult to understand and breakdown. More information regarding public school finance, its impact and CSD specific information is provided below.
- Most Wisconsin students (84%) are educated in Wisconsin public schools. Most Wisconsin parents choose and are satisfied with their local public schools.
- Wisconsin students score among the highest in the nation on NAEP math and reading proficiency tests (WASBO, 2024).
- In six of the last 10 years, revenue limits for Wisconsin schools have remained unchanged. This has led to a growing gap between revenue and rising expenses, especially when considering the impact of inflation the last three years. This has led to significant budget challenges for school districts and the students and families they serve. (SAA, 2024)
- Our families, residents and schools have felt the impact of inflation increases the last four years. As measured by the Consumer Price Index, inflation has increased. 6.5% (2021-22), 8% (2022-23), 4.1% (2023-24), and 2.95% (2024-25). Funding has not kept pace with these rising costs. General school district revenue per pupil lags inflation by $3300 per pupil since 2009.
- Rising costs in the following areas require more dollars just to maintain current levels of service: curriculum, student academic and support needs, mental health, technology, energy, insurance, healthcare, transportation, legal, food service, wages, and facility maintenance.
- Inflation, unfunded or underfunded state and federal mandates, and public school overregulation has increased the cost to educate students. State legislators have not provided funding to match inflation and added requirements. Legislators have shifted this funding burden to local tax payers.
- Wisconsin ranks 25th nationally in per-pupil funding. This is 7.2% below the national average. Wisconsin ranked 11th in 2002. (SAA, 2024)
The Campbellsport School District is determined to overcome these budget challenges. The District is doing strategic planning that includes the following priorities:
- providing high quality education and opportunities for our students
- creating a positive culture for our students, staff and parents based their input and feedback
- building partnerships with our communities, businesses and organizations
- three year balanced budget planning
- reducing expenses that least impact safety and learning
- improving efficiency
- staffing to meet both student and budgetary needs
- service contract competition and negotiation
- increasing revenue through grants and sponsorships
Board member Keith Peters is proud of the education the CSD provides and how the district has managed its budget. He is determined to see that continue and work through the current school funding challenges. Mr. Peters cites how the 2019 referendum and remodel project came in under budget. That savings was placed in defeasance and used in 2022 to pay down $1.2 million in debt that saved district taxpayers 16 years of interest payments. In 2026, the district will again be able to pay an additional $1.1 million of debt down, saving 12 years of interest payments. We respect and are thankful to our residents for their support of our schools and students.
Strong schools build strong communities. Strong schools benefit our communities and make positive impacts such as: student education and success, build future leaders, are a community hub for events and entertainment, promote local partnerships, stronger work force, boost economic development, increase property values, attract families and business investment, and create jobs. The Campbellsport School District is committed to being a great district and building on our strengths and successes:
- The Campbellsport School District has earned an Exceeds Expectations rating under the Wisconsin school accountability system the last three years.
- Our district excels at preparing our students for a pathway to success built on their individual interests, knowledge, skills and talents. Hundreds of our students participate each year in work experience, Youth Apprenticeship, dual credit courses that earn them both high school and two or four year college credits, and/or earn Industry Recognized credentials. This is extraordinary for a small district our size and saves parents hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- The CSD surveys and gets feedback from students, parents and/or staff annually. This feedback is used to make improvements each year. A majority of our students, parents and staff are satisfied with our schools and overall satisfaction is steadily increasing from year to year.
- We are a small district with big opportunities for our students!
District Administrator Tom Wissink and School Board President Mike Weiss continued, “We take educating and preparing our students for college, career and life as well as being fiscally responsible to our local taxpayers very seriously. We strive to provide a high quality education for our students and be good stewards of our taxpayers money. We want to deliver a high quality education to our students that is both a bargain and provides graduates that are ready to lead, pursue their dreams and positively impact our families, community, employers, economy, state and country.”
The Campbellsport School District Budget Hearing & Annual Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 27, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the Lang Auditorium, Room 33, at the Campbellsport MS/HS. Monthly Board meeting will follow in the MS/HS Library Media Center.
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