Referendums
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS. STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY. ​ENSURE OUR FUTURE.
What is a Referendum?
A school referendum is a vote held by the community to approve or reject funding measures for a school district. It typically involves asking local taxpayers to approve additional funding or taxes to support educational needs.
There are multiple reasons a school district might seek a referendum, but tend to be driven by the need for:
Funding for Operational Costs
This may cover day-to-day expenses such as salaries, utilities, supplies, and maintenance for schools that aren't fully covered by state or federal funding.​
Facility
Improvements
This can include funding for building renovations, upgrades, or new construction to ensure schools meet safety standards and provide an environment conducive to learning.
Program Expansion or Enhancements
Funds may be requested to support extracurricular activities, academic programs, special education, or technology initiatives that enhance students' educational experience.
Debt Service: In some cases, a referendum is used to help manage or pay off existing school district debt or bonds taken for previous projects.
​School referendums are a vital way for communities to support the educational needs of their students, especially when state funding is insufficient to cover all necessary expenses.
Capital Vs. Operational Referendums
The key difference between a capital referendum and an operational referendum lies in the purpose of the funds being requested
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Capital Referendum:
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Purpose: The funds raised through a capital referendum are typically used for long-term investments in the physical infrastructure of the school district.
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Uses: This includes building construction, renovations, repairs, upgrades to school facilities, and purchasing long-term assets such as equipment or technology.
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Impact: Capital referendums focus on improving the physical space where students learn and ensuring the district’s facilities are safe, modern, and functional for years to come.
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Operational Referendum:
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Purpose: The funds raised through an operational referendum are used to support the day-to-day expenses of the school district.
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Uses: This covers ongoing costs such as teacher salaries, staff benefits, classroom supplies, maintenance, utilities, and other daily operating expenses.
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Impact: Operational referendums are crucial for maintaining and enhancing the quality of education and supporting the staff and programs that directly impact students.
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In short, capital referendums are for long-term investments in infrastructure, while operational referendums support the ongoing functioning of schools and educational programs.
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WISCONSIN SCHOOLS NEED THEIR COMMUNITIES
In recent years, the approval rate for school referendums has been on the decline. In 2024, Wisconsin voters approved approximately 70% of school funding referenda, marking a 10 percentage-point decrease from 2022 and the lowest passage rate in a midterm or presidential election year in the last decade.wispolicyforum.org
This trend continues a pattern of declining approval rates since 2018. dailyreporter.com
Several factors contribute to this decline, including increased funding requests due to inflation outpacing state revenue limits, pressures to raise wages, and the conclusion of federal COVID-19 relief funds. apnews.com
Despite the decrease in approval rates, the total amount of funding approved through referendums has reached record highs, indicating a complex relationship between voter sentiment and funding needs.