, , ,

Two Consolidated Northern Wisconsin Schools Get Funding In State Budget

Special Aid Included As Last-Minute Provision

By

One of the last-minute items slipped into the state budget will benefit two consolidated northern Wisconsin school districts.

The budget provision received bipartisan support from northern Wisconsin lawmakers.

State Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, said the Chequamegon School District would have been at a disadvantage under current law guiding consolidation aid.

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“They’re having real budgetary challenges with their consolidation with the Glidden School District,” Tiffany said.

Consolidation aid for Chequamegon and Chetek-Weyerhauser School District was set to expire. State Sen. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, said a correction needed to be made.

“After consolidation, the amount of funding that goes to a school district is decreased at a certain rate and when you consolidate you can anticipate per-pupil aid at a certain rate,“ she said. “They would fall off a cliff in years five and six, I believe.”

Bewley said the correction allows them to make revenue limit adjustments for the coming year. She said that gives the district more time to be weaned off consolidation aid.