Cash-Strapped School Districts Around Wisconsin Turn to Voters to Increase Funding

Friday, April 7th, 2023 -- 12:00 PM

(By Gaby Vinick, Wisconsin Public Radio) Cash-strapped schools around Wisconsin again turned to voters to increase funding to maintain operations. The state saw 82 referendums across 68 districts this year, 53 of which asked local taxpayers to raise districts' revenue limits. 

According to Gavy Vinick with Wisconsin Public Radio, the state Department of Public Instruction was still tallying official results as of Wednesday evening. Schools sought about $675 million in bond issuance and about $474 million in operational funding referendums.

The ballot questions focused on a range of issues from funding capital projects to building renovations, infrastructure improvements and spending on new technology. Forty-three referendums asked to raise more money on a temporary basis, and 10 asked for permanent, recurring authority to increase the district's revenue limit. Two districts had two operating referendums each on the ballot. 

As of Wednesday evening, 13 referendums for non-recurrent funding had passed while 18 failed. For those seeking permanent increases, four passed and four failed. For borrowing referendums to issue debt, 15 passed and nine failed. Final results for the other 18 were still being counted.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.