Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839
Elk Mound – Governor Scott Walker visited Elk Mound High School in the Elk Mound Area School District today to highlight the significant investments in K-12 education and rural schools included in his Executive Budget proposal. Governor Walker’s plan lifts total K-12 investment to $11.5 billion over two years, an all-time high. The budget increases the per pupil categorical aid by $509.2 million. In total, the proposal also includes $649 million in new state aids for all of Wisconsin’s K-12 schools.
“It is a moral and economic imperative every child in Wisconsin has access to a quality education, regardless of their zip code,” Governor Walker said. “Our Reform Dividend allows us to reinvest in top priorities like student success. We’re happy to be here in the Elk Mound Area School District today, which directly benefits from our investments in K-12 education. Looking forward, we will continue our efforts to ensure every student in Wisconsin is set up for future success.”
Governor Walker’s budget proposal provides greater support for Wisconsin’s rural schools through a $20 million increase in Sparsity Aid, $10.4 million increase in High-Cost Transportation Aid, $92,000 investment over the biennium in Pupil Transportation Aid, an increase in the reimbursement rate for pupil transportation, and an additional $22.5 million investment in broadband infrastructure grants.
The Elk Mound Area School District is estimated to receive more than $1.2 million in funding from these select categorical aids under Governor Walker’s biennial budget, including:
- $488,250 in Fiscal Year 2018 and $709,590 in Fiscal Year 2019 in Per Pupil Aid. This represents an increase of $655,340 over Fiscal Year 2017 doubled. Governor Walker’s budget increases per-pupil funding by $200 per pupil in Fiscal Year 2018 and $204 per pupil in Fiscal Year 2019. This marks the largest increase since the 2005-2007 biennium.
- $40,540 in Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 in Pupil Transportation Aid. Governor Walker’s budget proposal funds the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) budget request for $92,000 in Pupil Transportation Aid over the biennium, increasing reimbursement rates from $300 per pupil to $365 per pupil for more than 12 miles, from $4 per pupil to $10 per pupil for two to five miles in summer school, and from $6 per pupil to $20 per pupil for more than five miles in summer school.
The Elk Mound Area School District may also be eligible for further funding under Governor Walker’s budget proposal, such as mental health grants, energy efficiency incentives, and special needs grants.
To learn more about Governor Walker’s proposed investment in K-12 and rural education, click here. For Governor Walker’s full 2017 Budget Address, click here.
