A letter from the Board of Education regarding the school district tax levy
Dear Cedar Grove-Belgium School District Community,
Soon, property tax bills will be mailed to households in our community. You may note that the allocation for the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District (CGBSD) has increased. This letter contains information about this change.
The state budget was approved in Madison in June 2025. The budget did not increase state equalization aid, which is a significant source of funding for the district. CGBSD is receiving $426,377 less in state aid than the previous year due to the realignment of funds across the state. Because of this decision, the funding burden is pushed to local taxpayers.
Included in the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District levy is a required payment of $698,885 for private school vouchers. This payment represents approximately 10% of the school portion of the property tax bill. This required payment is pulled from our district’s total operating budget, reducing the funds available for CGB classrooms, programs, and services. This number has steadily increased since 2013.
Even with a 6.8% increase in local property taxes, the district estimates it will be using $323,000 from fund balance to balance the budget.
The state budget retained a $4.6 billion fund balance. The state also grew its “rainy day” fund to approximately $2 billion. At the same time, Wisconsin continues to operate under revenue limits for school districts, which have not kept up with inflation.
The district and Board of Education are dedicated to providing an excellent education to each student while also being fiscally responsible. CGBSD is consistently ranked in the top 5% for academic achievement as compared to all K-12 districts in Wisconsin. We appreciate your partnership as we continue to educate and care for our students.
Sincerely,
Board of Education
Cedar Grove-Belgium School District