Chapter 121

121.05(1)(b) (b) The number of teachers employed in the school district on the 3rd Friday of September of the previous school year.

121.05(1)(c) (c) The estimated budget for the current school year which shall be based upon the uniform accounting system prescribed by the department.

121.05(1)(d) (d) The number of pupils for whom contracts with private education services are entered into under s. 120.13 (26).

121.05(2) (2) Notwithstanding sub. (1), the school district clerk of the school district operating under ch. 119 shall include, as part of the annual report under s. 119.44 (2), the number of pupils enrolled on the 3rd Friday of September, the 2nd Friday of January, or the first Friday of May, whichever is highest, including the pupils specified in sub. (1) (a), and the information described in sub. (1) (b) to (d).

121.05(3) (3) If a school district is unable to hold school on any of the dates specified in sub. (1) (a) or (2), the state superintendent shall designate alternative membership counting dates.

121.05(3m) (3m) If pupils enrolled in a school will not be in attendance at the school on any of the dates specified in sub. (1) (a) or (2) because of a regularly scheduled holiday or for a reason approved by the school board, the state superintendent shall permit the membership counting date to occur on the 3rd weekday that follows the next school day on which school is in session.

121.05(4) (4) The school board of a school district in which a foster or group home that is not exempt under s. 70.11 is located may submit a report to the state superintendent. If the school board submits a report, it shall submit it by June 30. The report shall indicate, on a full-time equivalent basis, the number of pupils residing in such foster or group homes who were provided educational services by the school district during the current school year but were not included in the September, January, or May membership count under sub. (1) (a) or (2). The state superintendent shall adjust the school district’s membership based on the report. The state superintendent shall make proportional adjustments to the memberships of the school districts in which the pupil was previously enrolled during that school year. The state superintendent shall obtain from such school districts the information necessary to make such adjustments. The state superintendent shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this subsection.

121.05 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 89; 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 29, 418; 1979 c. 34, 221, 244; 1981 c. 20, 251; 1983 a. 27, 192, 509; 1985 a. 29, 218; 1985 a. 225 s. 100; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1989 a. 336; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16, 395; 1995 a. 27 ss. 4040x, 4042, 9145 (1); 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 27, 113, 164; 1999 a. 9, 83, 117; 2001 a. 57, 109; 2003 a. 321; 2007 a. 200; 2009 a. 28, 302; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59.

121.05 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. PI 14.01, Wis. adm. code.

121.06 121.06 Determination and certification of equalized valuation.

121.06(1) (1) Annually on or before October 1, the full value of the taxable property in each part of each city, village and town in each school district shall be determined by the department of revenue according to its best judgment from all sources of information available to it and shall be certified by the department of revenue to the state superintendent.

121.06(2) (2) The state superintendent shall certify to each school district clerk the appropriate full values certified to the state superintendent under sub. (1).

121.06(3) (3) For purposes of computing state aid under s. 121.08 equalized valuations calculated under sub. (1) and certified under sub. (2) shall exclude property taxed under s. 70.114, 1981 stats., s. 70.116, 1981 stats., s. 70.117, 1981 stats., or s. 70.175, 1981 stats.

121.06(4) (4) For purposes of computing state aid under s. 121.08, equalized valuations calculated under sub. (1) and certified under sub. (2) shall include the full value of property that is exempt under s. 70.11 (39) and (39m) as determined under s. 79.095 (3) for 2016.

121.06 History History: 1973 c. 61, 90; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1084, 1647 (13); 1977 c. 300 s. 8; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 225; 1987 a. 403 s. 256; 1989 a. 336; 1993 a. 307; 1995 a. 27 ss. 4044, 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 113, 237; 2001 a. 16; 2017 a. 59.

121.07 121.07 General provisions; state aid computation. In this subchapter:

121.07(1) (1) Basis for statistics.

121.07(1)(a) (a) The membership of the school district in the previous school year and the shared cost for the previous school year shall be used in computing general aid. If a school district has a state trust fund loan as a result of s. 24.61 (3) (c) 2., 2009 stats., the school district’s debt service costs shall be based upon current school year costs for the term of the loan and for one additional school year.

121.07(1)(b) (b) If the school district valuation is increased or decreased due to an alteration in school district boundaries before the 3rd Friday in September, the estimated shared cost for the current school year and the estimated mill levy rate shall be based on the school district equalized valuation of the territory comprising the altered school district.

121.07(1)(c) (c) If an order of school district reorganization under ch. 117 is not effective due to litigation until after the 3rd Friday in September but takes effect before April 1 of the current school year, state aid for any affected school district for the first year of operation shall be computed after the order takes effect using calculations by the state superintendent of the number of pupils enrolled and teacher-pupil ratio for the territory in the affected school district, which shall be made as if the school district had been in existence on the 3rd Friday in September.

121.07(2) (2) Membership. For the purposes of ss. 121.08, 121.09, 121.095, 121.105, and 121.137, a school district’s membership is the sum of all of the following:

121.07(2)(a) (a) The school district’s membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5), in the previous school year.

121.07(2)(b) (b) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year who were incoming choice pupils, as defined in s. 118.60 (4d) (a), and for whom a payment was made under s. 118.60 (4) (bg) in the previous school year.

121.07(2)(c) (c) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 115.7915 (4m) (a) or (e) in the previous school year.

121.07(2)(d) (d) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 118.40 (2r) (e) to an operator of a charter school established under contract with an entity under s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. e. to h. in the previous school year.

121.07(2)(f) (f) The number of pupils residing in the school district in the previous school year for whom a payment was made under s. 118.40 (2x) (e) in the previous school year.

121.07(6) (6) Shared cost.

121.07(6)(a) (a) “Shared cost” is the sum of the net cost of the general fund and the net cost of the debt service fund, except that “shared cost” excludes any costs, including attorney fees, incurred by a school district as a result of its participation in a lawsuit commenced against the state, beginning with such costs incurred in the fiscal year in which the lawsuit is commenced, excludes any expenditures from a capital improvement trust fund created under s. 120.137, excludes any debt service costs associated with an environmental remediation project under s. 67.05 (7) (er), and excludes the costs of transporting those transfer pupils for whom the school district operating under ch. 119 does not receive intradistrict transfer aid under s. 121.85 (6) as a result of s. 121.85 (6) (am). In this paragraph:

121.07(6)(a)1m. 1m. “Net cost of the debt service fund” includes all of the following amounts:

121.07(6)(a)1m.a. a. If a school board makes an expenditure from a capital expansion fund created under s. 120.10 (10m), an amount determined by dividing the expenditure by the number of years in which the school district levied a tax for the capital project. This subd. 1m. a. applies for the number of years equal to the number of years in which the school district levied a tax for the capital project.

121.07(6)(a)1m.b. b. The annual cost of leasing a school or other school district facility if the lease provides for construction of the school or facility and the lease either provides that ownership of the school or facility transfers to the school district at the termination of the lease or provides an option for such a transfer.

121.07(6)(a)2m. 2m. “Net cost of the general fund” includes money deposited in a long-term capital improvement trust fund created under s. 120.137.

121.07(6)(am) (am) In par. (a), for the purpose of calculating state aid paid to a school district in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, “shared cost” excludes any amount expended in the previous school year from the school district’s fund balance to pay the school district’s unfunded pension liability under the Wisconsin Retirement System or to pay debt service for debt issued to refinance the balance of the unfunded pension liability if the result of excluding such expenditures is an increase in state aid paid to the school district under s. 121.08.

121.07(6)(b) (b) The “primary ceiling cost per member” is $1,000.

121.07(6)(c) (c) The “primary shared cost” is that portion of a district’s shared cost which is less than or equal to the primary ceiling cost per member multiplied by its membership.

121.07(6)(d) (d) The “secondary ceiling cost per member” in the 2001-02 school year and in each school year thereafter is an amount determined by dividing the state total shared cost in the previous school year by the state total membership in the previous school year and multiplying the result by 0.90.

121.07(6)(dg) (dg) The “secondary shared cost” is that portion of a school district’s shared cost which is greater than the primary ceiling cost per member multiplied by its membership and less than or equal to the secondary ceiling cost per member multiplied by its membership.

121.07(6)(dr) (dr) The “tertiary shared cost” is that portion of a school district’s shared cost which is greater than the secondary ceiling cost per member multiplied by its membership.

121.07(6)(e) (e)

121.07(6)(e)1. 1. For a school district created by a consolidation under s. 117.08 or 117.09 that takes effect before July 1, 2019, in the school year in which the consolidation takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the amounts under pars. (b) and (d) shall be multiplied by 1.15 and rounded to the next lowest dollar.

121.07(6)(e)2. 2. For a school district from which territory was detached to create a school district under s. 117.105, in each of the 3 school years beginning on the July 1 following the effective date of the reorganization under s. 117.105, the amounts under pars. (b) and (d) shall be multiplied by 1.05 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(7) (7) Guaranteed valuation per member.

121.07(7)(a) (a) The “primary guaranteed valuation per member” is $1,930,000.

121.07(7)(b) (b) The “secondary guaranteed valuation per member” is an amount, rounded to the next lower dollar, that, after subtraction of payments under ss. 121.09 and 121.85 (6) (b) 2. and 3. and (c), fully distributes an amount equal to the amount remaining in the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac).

121.07(7)(bm) (bm) The “tertiary guaranteed valuation per member” is the amount rounded to the next lower dollar determined by dividing the equalized valuation of the state by the state total membership.

121.07(7)(c) (c) For districts operating only high school grades, the amounts in pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 3 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(7)(d) (d) For districts operating only elementary grades, the amounts in pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.5 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(7)(e) (e)

121.07(7)(e)1. 1. For a school district created by a consolidation under s. 117.08 or 117.09 that takes effect before July 1, 2019, in the school year in which the consolidation takes effect and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the amounts under pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.15 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(7)(e)2. 2. For a school district from which territory was detached to create a school district under s. 117.105, in each of the 3 school years beginning on the July 1 following the effective date of the reorganization under s. 117.105, the amounts under pars. (a) to (bm) shall be multiplied by 1.05 and rounded to the next lower dollar.

121.07(8) (8) Guaranteed valuation. A school district’s primary, secondary and tertiary guaranteed valuations are determined by multiplying the amounts in sub. (7) by the district’s membership.

121.07(10) (10) Required levy rate.

121.07(10)(a) (a) The “required levy rate” is the sum of the rates derived in pars. (b) to (d).

121.07(10)(b) (b) The “primary required levy rate” is the primary shared cost divided by the primary guaranteed valuation.

121.07(10)(c) (c) The “secondary required levy rate” is the secondary shared cost divided by the secondary guaranteed valuation.

121.07(10)(d) (d) The “tertiary required levy rate” is the tertiary shared cost divided by the tertiary guaranteed valuation.

121.07 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 61, 90, 190, 333; 1975 c. 39; 1977 c. 29, 178, 418; 1979 c. 34, 221; 1981 c. 20, 317, 385; 1983 a. 27, 212; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31, 114, 309, 336, 359; 1991 a. 39, 269, 315; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1995 a. 27 ss. 4046m to 4064, 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 113, 286; 1999 a. 9, 17; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 71; 2013 a. 20, 336; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 219; 2023 a. 138.

121.08 121.08 Payment of state aids; reductions.

121.08(1) (1) The state shall pay to the school district the sum of the following amounts:

121.08(1)(a) (a) The amount by which the primary guaranteed valuation exceeds the school district equalized valuation, multiplied by the primary required levy rate.

121.08(1)(b) (b) The amount by which the secondary guaranteed valuation exceeds the school district equalized valuation multiplied by the secondary required levy rate.

121.08(1)(c) (c) The amount by which the tertiary guaranteed valuation exceeds the school district equalized valuation multiplied by the tertiary required levy rate.

121.08(2) (2) The aid computed under sub. (1) shall be reduced by the sum of the amount by which the school district equalized valuation exceeds the secondary guaranteed valuation, multiplied by the secondary required levy rate, and the amount by which the school district equalized valuation exceeds the tertiary guaranteed valuation, multiplied by the tertiary required levy rate. In no case may the aid under this section be less than the amount under sub. (1) (a).

121.08(3) (3) The aid computed under sub. (1) shall be reduced by the amount by which the aid that the school district is receiving under sub. (1) as a result of the number of pupils reported as enrolled in the school district under s. 121.05 (1) (a) 7. exceeds the amount paid by the school district for tuition for those pupils.

121.08(4) (4) 

121.08(4)(b) (b) The amount of state aid that the school district operating under ch. 119 is eligible to be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) shall be reduced by the amount calculated as follows:

121.08(4)(b)1. 1. Multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2009-10 school year by 41.6 percent, and multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2010-11 to 2012-13 school years by 38.4 percent. Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the current school year by a percentage determined by subtracting 3.2 percentage points from the percentage that was applied under this subdivision in the previous school year. This subdivision does not apply after the 2024-25 school year.

121.08(4)(b)2. 2. Multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2009-10 school year by 3.4 percent, and multiply the amounts paid under s. 119.23 (4) and (4m) in the 2010-11 school year and in each school year thereafter by 6.6 percent.

121.08(4)(b)3. 3. Add the amounts determined under subds. 1. and 2.

121.08(4)(d) (d) The state superintendent shall ensure that the total amount of aid reduction under par. (b) lapses to the general fund.

121.08 History History: 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29; 1983 a. 509; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 9, 185; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 100; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32, 157; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2021 a. 58.

121.085 121.085 State aid; other reductions.

121.085(1) (1) The department shall make state aid adjustments under s. 118.51 (16) and (17) before making a reduction under s. 115.7915 (4m) (f), 118.40 (2r) (g) or (2x) (f), or 118.60 (4d) (b).

121.085(2) (2) For purposes of ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 2., 118.40 (2r) (g) 2. and (2x) (f) 2., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 2., a school district’s aid under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover a reduction if, after making state aid adjustments under s. 118.51 (16) and (17), the amount of the school district’s aid under s. 121.08 is insufficient to cover all of the reductions under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 1., 118.40 (2r) (g) 1. and (2x) (f) 1., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1.

121.085(3) (3) The state superintendent shall ensure that the aid reductions under ss. 115.7915 (4m) (f) 1., 118.40 (2r) (g) 1. and (2x) (f) 1., and 118.60 (4d) (b) 1. lapse to the general fund.

121.085 History History: 2015 a. 55.

121.09 121.09 State aid adjustment; redetermination of assessment.

121.09(1) (1) If, on or after July 1, 1980, the tax appeals commission or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is lower than the previous assessment, or if, on or after January 1, 1982, the state board of assessors makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is lower than the previous assessment, the school board of the school district in which the property is located may, within 4 years after the date of the determination, decision, or judgment, file the determination of the state board of assessors, the decision of the tax appeals commission, or the judgment of the court with the state superintendent, requesting an adjustment in state aid to the school district. If the state superintendent determines that the determination, decision, or judgment is final and that it has been filed within the 4-year period, the state shall pay to the school district in the subsequent fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac), an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district’s equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year using the school district’s equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).

121.09(2) (2) If, on or after May 3, 1984, the state board of assessors, the tax appeals commission or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is higher than the previous assessment, the state superintendent shall notify the school district in which the property is located of the recertification by the department of revenue under s. 70.57 (2). The state superintendent shall, in the subsequent fiscal year, withhold from the school district’s state aid entitlement under s. 121.08 an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district’s equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year, using the school district’s equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).

121.09(2m) (2m) If after June 30, 1995, and before July 26, 2003, the state board of assessors, the tax appeals commission, or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of telephone company property subject to taxation under s. 70.112 (4) and subch. IV of ch. 76 that is lower than the previous assessment, the school board of the school district in which the property is located may, within 4 years after July 26, 2003, file the redetermination with the state superintendent, requesting an adjustment in state aid to the school district. If the state superintendent determines that the redetermination is final and that it has been filed within the 4-year period, the state shall pay to the school district in the subsequent fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac), an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district’s equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year using the school district’s equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).

121.09(2r) (2r) If after July 26, 2003, the state board of assessors, the tax appeals commission, or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of telephone company property subject to taxation under s. 70.112 (4) and subch. IV of ch. 76 that is lower than the previous assessment, the school board of the school district in which the property is located may, within 4 years after the redetermination, file the redetermination with the state superintendent, requesting an adjustment in state aid to the school district. If the state superintendent determines that the redetermination is final and that it has been filed within the 4-year period, the state shall pay to the school district in the subsequent fiscal year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac), an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district’s equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year using the school district’s equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).

121.09 History History: 1983 a. 372; 1985 a. 29; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33.

121.09 Annotation School districts may obtain adjustments in state aid payments whether their equalized valuation is changed either as a result of a reassessment of or a finding of exemption of manufacturing property. 73 Atty. Gen. 119.

121.095 121.095 State aid adjustment; Challenge Academy program.

121.095(1) (1) Annually the department shall reduce each school district’s state aid payment under s. 121.08, or other state aid payments, if necessary, by an amount calculated as follows:

121.095(1)(a) (a) Determine the number of pupils counted in the school district’s membership who are attending the Challenge Academy program under s. 321.03 (1) (c).

121.095(1)(b) (b) Multiply the result under par. (a) by the lesser of the following:

121.095(1)(b)1. 1. The amount determined by the department of military affairs under s. 321.03 (1) (c) 1.

121.095(1)(b)2. 2. The amount determined for the school district under s. 121.91 (2m) (e) 3. for the current school year.