OUR CHALLENGES
Building a Healthy Foundation to Support Student Opportunities
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley school district has worked hard to maintain strong student programs while being careful with local taxpayer dollars. Like many nearby school districts, WHA does not have a voter-approved operating levy because of the unique burden it would place on year-round taxpayers in a community with a high percentage of seasonal recreational property, like cabins and lake homes. Seasonal recreation properties do not pay operating levies, as the state has chosen to levy a separate property tax on these properties that is used for general state spending. But now a new program was created in 2026 for districts like ours.
At the same time, our students still deserve the best education we can offer. At WHA, we provide:
Small class sizes, starting with our youngest learners in elementary school
Social workers and a school resource officer for safe, secure schools
Reading and math services so our students get specialized support and don’t fall behind
Career and technical education opportunities that provide hands-on learning
College-level pathways for high school students, including the option to earn an AA degree
Maintaining these opportunities without additional revenue has become unsustainable. For the 2025-26 school year, WHA operated with a $573,000 deficit in its fund balance. Without a stronger financial foundation for operations, the district will need to reduce staff, programs and student activities in order to balance the budget. The proposed operating levy is intended to restore the budget by unlocking additional state funding.