Nicolet Begins Budget Process with Flat Revenue, Swelling Expenses

Belt-tightening will be the name of the game over the next few months for Nicolet school officials as they begin to tackle the 2013-2014 budget with flat revenue and swelling expenses.

Gov. Scott Walker’s 2013-15 biennial budget proposal, presented last week, outlines a freeze of the revenue limit for school districts across the state. Nicolet is one of many districts that expected an increase, Jeff Dellutri, Nicolet Director of Business Services said.

“We never imagined this,” said Dellutri, who noted he expected a $200 per student increase.

“We lost 5 percent of the revenue limit two years ago… last year we gained $50,” he said. "We have seen big declines followed by a minimal increase.”

Dellutri said there are far too many moving pieces at this point to estimate a budget deficit or surplus the district will start its budget process with. Nicolet has a number of projects pending including a stormwater mitigation plan, which translates into a $300,000 annual expense. 

“Our electricity goes up and our bus transportation goes up and our health insurance goes up,” School Board member Joseph Kasle added.

Over the course of the next few months, the administration will weigh priorities in the district, Dellutri said, and then return to the School Board with a final product in May, at which point the School Board will likely vote on a preliminary budget.