Western Wisconsin School Districts Prepare for Referendum Votes

School districts in Western Wisconsin are preparing for another round of ballot referendum votes this Spring.

School referendums have become a common part of Wisconsin’s education landscape as districts ask local property taxpayers for help. Those districts commonly cite declining enrollment as a driving factor in the budget deficits they face. According to a WPR report, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction officials say public schools in 68 of the state’s 72 counties saw declining enrollment over the last year.

The Augusta Area School District is among those in Western Wisconsin seeking approval for an operational referendum from local voters. District officials say they’re facing a projected deficit of around $630,000 next year, even after years of making other significant budget cuts.

The proposed referendum seeks $370,000 in additional funding for each of the next two school years. District officials also say that even if the referendum is approved, they’ll seek to cut about $600,000 this year.

The Eleva-Strum School District is also proposing an operational referendum in the Spring election, though property taxes would actually decrease compared to last year if approved. The district proposed a three year, $600,000 referendum following the expiration of a previously passed $700,000 referendum. If approved, property taxes would actually decrease by about $23 per $100,000 in property value.

School districts also commonly turn to referendum proposals to fund building projects. Unlike many other districts, the Fall Creek School District is actually struggling with increasing enrollment. District officials say they’ve seen a roughly 14 percent increase in enrollment over the last few years, and they’re proposing a nearly $25 million referendum spread over 20 years for a building expansion project.

The School District of Altoona is also pursuing a nearly $16 million referendum for infrastructure needs. If approved next month, the funding would go towards critical repair and replacement needs on the district’s main campus.