Revenue is not keeping pace with expenses, despite several efforts taken by the district to reduce expenses. The current $575,000 per year non-recurring referendum ends June 30, 2025. State law requires school districts to gain permission from citizens for revenue the district needs above what is above the State-set revenue limit. 

If approved, the operational revenue contributes to:

• Retention of quality staff

• Sustain educational programming for students

• Providing essential technology

• Rebuilding financial stability

All Wisconsin school districts operate within revenue limits which cap the amount of revenue each district can receive each year. Enrollment, property values and state aid all determine each District’s revenue limit (which funds the District’s operations).

The District has seen a significant historical decrease in the revenue limit, and has relied on approval of operational referendums since July 2015 to sustain the operation of the school district.

In response, the Board of Education has controlled costs, made budget reductions, and has drained reserve funds to sustain educational programs and maintain buildings and grounds. An ongoing budget deficit threatens programs, staffing, and the effective operation of our school.

The Board of Education has run out of options to maintain current programs and services without an approved referendum.

The District is at a critical point and has run out of ways to maintain current school programs and services without an approved operational referendum. Without a successful referendum, programs and opportunities will be cut. This likely would happen year after year. Sadly, this solution cuts at the core of what we are as a school district. Without approval of this operational referendum, the District will make reductions to balance the budget, such as:

• Increase Class Sizes

• Reduce Academic Offerings

• Limit Encore Classes (i.e. Art, Music, Phy Ed, Foreign Language)

• Limit Services That Support Student Learning

• Further Defer Facility Maintenance and Repairs

• Reduce Technology Replacement Cycles

• Controlled expenses across the board for several years;

• Made budget reductions for several years including reducing teaching, administrative, and support staff;

• Utilized grants to address instructional technology needs, to preserve operating funds;

• Established capital improvement fund to address long-term maintenance needs.

The tax increase of the operational referendum, based on our current set of assumptions, is 39 cents per $1,000 of property value.

To come up with this number, it is assumed that property values will grow by 2.5%, which is a conservative projection. This calculation takes the difference between the new referendum and the expiring referendum ($225,000) divided by the projected equalized property value for 2025-26 ($477,451,600).  

• School consolidation is a complex topic requiring time and resources to come to agreement across multiple school districts and communities.

• We do not view this as a feasible solution for the budget shortfalls we are facing beginning in 2024-25.

• The school district is currently sharing staff at multiple positions to right size staffing.

• The school district is also exploring grade-level sharing with other districts.

• A cost-effective consolidation feasibility study may require two to four years to complete.  This study may be conducted to determine if it is a viable option for all affected students, communities, and property tax payers.

• Families pay for daycare within our district. It is not paid for within the operating budget for the district and therefore does not address the operational deficit.

• Young families who need local daycare are more likely to enroll in our schools for consistency.

• Young staff members with children are attracted to our district because it is a huge benefit to our staff.

• We have no other daycare options in the area.