La Crosse Schools Adopts Budget With Lower Tax Rate
The district will consolidate nine elementary buildings to seven as enrollment declines by 153 students.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Administration
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La Crosse Public Schools has adopted a budget that lowers the mill rate to $6.98 per $1,000 of assessed value, about an 8.3% decrease. The plan follows a 2.7% drop in enrollment to 5,411 students and a loss of nearly $1.4 million in base revenue.
Why it matters
Declining enrollment reduces state funding, while costs for fuel, food, books and supplies keep rising faster than revenue. Consolidating buildings is the district's approach to balancing those pressures for La Crosse taxpayers and families.
The district's adopted budget shows a mill rate falling from $7.61 to $6.98 per $1,000 of assessed value while the local tax levy rises 0.97% to $53.41 million. A typical $250,000 property will pay $1,745 next year, down from $1,902.50 this year, though the district has not addressed the long-term effects of the continued enrollment decline.
The players
La Crosse Public Schools
The public school district serving the City of La Crosse, responsible for the budget, enrollment planning and the elementary school consolidation.
The details
The district is consolidating nine elementary buildings down to seven, funded by proceeds from a $53 million referendum approved in 2024. Emerson, Spence and Hintgen elementary schools will close, the Hogan Administrative Center has been torn down to make way for a new $42 million combined elementary school, and referendum funds will support an $11.5 million addition at State Road Elementary.
Timeline
2024: Voters approved a $53 million referendum funding the consolidation.
2025-26 school year: Baseline enrollment before the 153-student decline.
2026-27 school year: Lower mill rate takes effect and consolidation begins.
Roadmap
Enrollment-driven funding losses are forcing many Wisconsin districts to reconsider their building footprints rather than their overall spending. La Crosse's move to cut nine elementary buildings to seven follows that pattern, using a voter-approved referendum to pay for newer facilities while shrinking the number of sites.
Households in La Crosse should see a lower property tax bill next year even as the levy rises slightly, because the mill rate drops from $7.61 to $6.98. Families with children at Emerson, Spence or Hintgen will need to plan for school closures and new assignments as the consolidation takes effect.
The takeaway
Lower mill rates do not always mean lower total costs for schools, and the consolidation shows how districts are trading buildings for stability as enrollment shrinks. Residents tracking their own tax bills should compare the new rate against their assessed property value.
Further reading
For more on how school districts manage budgets and facilities, explore Administration coverage in La Crosse.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wisconsin State Journal.
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