The Mequon-Thiensville School District has signed off on a preliminary 2026-27 budget that mostly holds the line on spending while quietly nudging the tax levy higher. The plan calls for an operational surplus of $530,415 and sets a total levy of about $55.07 million, roughly a 2.74 percent bump over last year, with officials saying they are trying to protect reserves while still putting money into special education and a Range Line recreation upgrade.
Tax levy heads to July 20 vote
The budget now heads to a public hearing and annual meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, July 20 at the Range Line Community Center, where residents in attendance will be asked to adopt the levy. According to the Mequon-Thiensville School District, the proposed $55,072,416 levy breaks down into a $50,430,201 general fund levy, $4,414,635 for debt service and $227,580 for community service. District leaders will present the preliminary budget at the hearing and provide a view-only livestream, but anyone who wants to speak or vote will need to show up in person.
Flat spending, small surplus, tiny rate dip
The preliminary budget assumes total enrollment of about 3,535 students and projects general fund revenues of $58,644,541 against expenditures of $58,114,126, leaving that $530,415 operating surplus and an ending fund balance of $12,763,552, according to GMToday. The district’s estimated $55,072,416 levy is up $1,466,444 from last year’s $53,605,972, yet the preliminary mill rate is actually projected to slip a hair, from $6.90 to $6.88 per $1,000 of assessed value. Fund 80, which covers community service, is slated to spend $2,687,496 after running at roughly $1.6 million the previous year; the school board unanimously approved the preliminary budget last month, GMToday reports.
Special ed pressures and protecting reserves
Special education remains a big-ticket item. The budget sets aside $10,615,173 in Fund 27 spending and relies on a $5.9 million transfer from the general fund to cover required services, according to GMToday. "The financial position of the district has improved since October," Executive Director of Business Services Andrew Sarnow told GMToday, while warning that ongoing operating costs still weigh on the general fund. District officials say the current plan buys a bit of breathing room, but it also keeps them very aware of longer term cost pressures.
Range Line revamp brings pickleball into the mix
On the community side, the budget steers Fund 80 dollars toward a Range Line Community Center facelift that adds outdoor pickleball courts and upgrades to playground and gathering areas. As detailed by the Mequon-Thiensville School District, the Gather & Play project has a tentative $375,000 Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund award through the Wisconsin DNR and will lean on donations and recreation revenue to close the remaining funding gap. The district reports that pickleball sponsorships are closing in on $95,000, with more corporate and community support still needed before shovels hit the ground.
How residents can weigh in
The July 20 budget hearing and annual meeting give residents a direct say on the levy immediately after the presentation. To speak or vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, live in the district for at least 28 consecutive days before the meeting and be at least 18 years old on July 20. A livestream will be available for those who only want to watch, but participation and voting are limited to those physically in the room.
Why the small hike carries big weight
The district’s own 2025-27 biennial budget analysis points out that increases in categorical aid, especially special education reimbursement, provide real relief, but shrinking general equalization aid and rising operating costs keep shifting more of the load to local taxpayers. According to BoardDocs, that dynamic is why the 2024 operational referendum and the district’s reserves remain central to maintaining current programs. In that light, the board’s cautious move to raise the levy slightly while guarding fund balances and selective investments is less a splashy new direction and more an attempt to keep the ship steady in choppy financial waters.
