Chippewa Valley Schools expects to spend upwards of $137 million next year, leaving just under $13 million in the district’s rainy day fund by the end of June 2013.

While another year of deficit spending will negatively impact the district’s savings, the financial strain of 2012-13 is not nearly as severe as district administrators originally predicted. 

At this time last year, Chippewa Valley was projecting a $9 million budget deficit for the 2012-13 school year. However, thanks to an increase in school aid from the state and continuation of the district’s own cost-saving measures (two-year employee contract freezing salary increases), the projected deficit is expected to be $6 million less than first anticipated.

Although the district expects to take in more than $134.7 million in revenue, it will spend some $137.8 million on basic programs, staff, support services, administration, transportation and other instructional needs.

However, this $3 million deficit is one the district can “definitely sustain,” said Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Scott Sederlund. The district could also get a boost if Senate Bill 1040 passes. With this legislation in place, Sederlund predicts the district's deficit would drop to about $1 million, as some $2 million would be saved from the bill’s controversial changes to the retirement system used by public school employees.

For the current school year, 2011-12, the district expects to close accounts with $15.9 million in the rainy day fund. By the end of June 2013, this fund will have only about $12.8 million remaining.

So how does the district spend $137.8 million?

• Basic Needs: $74,591,084
• Added Needs: $14,587,134
• Adult and Continuing Education: $160,641
• Pupil costs: $12,672,148
• Instructional Staff: $3,598,574
• General Administration: $670,508
• School Administration: $9,165,241
• Business: $1,915,547
• Operations and Maintenance: $9,488,168
• Transportation: $4,128,616
• Central Office: $2,647,832
• Other Support (Athletics, CTE): $2,101,337
• Community Services: 1,035,666

View the 2012-13 budget, passed by the school board June 18, on the ninth page of the board's meeting agenda.