Drop in state school aid funding in La Crosse for coming year

Funding formula means decrease in state aid doesn’t necessarily mean cuts in the district.

La Crosse is among the 231 school districts getting less money from Madison in the coming school year. 

Preliminary aid numbers released today by the Department of Public Instruction says the La Crosse school district will receive about $450,000 less in state aid for the coming school year than this past year.  A 1.44% decrease. 

Onalaska is also getting less (-$307,000) as is the Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau school district (-$49,000). 

Holmen ($154,000), West Salem ($397,000), Sparta ($890,000) and Westby ($154,000) are all in line to get more state aid. 

Because of the complicated funding formula for schools, less in aid from the state typically means local property taxpayers simply pay more. 

The state aid numbers could change.  Legislators seem deadlocked on a budget plan for the state.  Work that was supposed to be complete by July 1st.