06/17/2020- Budget preparations are underway for the Marinette School District, but the full effect of the COVID-19 crisis on the district’s financials has yet to be seen. Finance Director Sean Kelly gave the Board of Education an overview of the preliminary budget for the 2020-2021 academic year Tuesday. He says with a $2-billion decrease in state revenue projected, the district is not planning for any increase in state aid, and Kelly expects the drop in that state revenue will impact the district after the November election through delayed aid payments, lower special education percentage reimbursement, and a cut in equalization aid in the 2021-2023 state budget. Wisconsin DPI is required to certify the amount of general school aid districts will receive by mid-October, and Kelly adds the fate of any sort of budget repair bill is also uncertain ahead of the election.

Despite all the uncertainty, Kelly is expecting property taxes for residents within the Marinette School District will fall by $0.17 per $1000 of assessed value. The Board also reviewed a plan Tuesday to reopen some of their facilities and grounds in the coming weeks. While many of the outdoor spaces will again be available July 1st, the majority of their buildings will remain closed until August. The district is still working to finalize their educational plan in response to COVID-19 for the upcoming school year.