Wausau School District Gauging Community Support of Possible Operational Referendum

Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 -- 8:01 AM

(Thomas Schumacher, WSAU) To help solve the district’s budget concerns, the Wausau School Board is proceeding with a community-wide survey to see whether there is interest in a potential operational referendum in November.

According to Thomas Schumacher wtih WSAU, that's according to a press release from the district, which stated the survey takes around 10-15 minutes to take and can be found on the district’s website.

Superintendent Dr. Keith Hilts spoke about why the estimated $9 million referendum is needed, saying, “We have about a $3.5 million budget shortfall, and we are doing our best to live within our means. We reduced 20+ staff, so we’re going to have 23 or 24 fewer people serving kids and families next year than we did this year.”

Hilts further stated that around 1000 residents have taken the survey so far, but the district would like to get as many as possible, and residents are encouraged to pick up a paper copy of the survey, which is available by visiting the Longfellow Administration Center at 415 Seymour Street in Wausau.

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