Significant Rise in Unpaid Lunch Debt in Wisconsin’s Schools

Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 -- 8:00 AM

(WMTV) From pizza slices to chocolate milk, back-to-school season marks the return to the cafeteria, but the cost of those meals is becoming an increasingly heavy burden for many Wisconsin families.

Public records requests filed across the state reveal a significant rise in unpaid lunch debt between 2023 and 2025.

• Madison Metropolitan School District saw a 70% spike
• Green Bay Area School District reported a 41% increase*
• Wausau School District jumped 68%
• Eau Claire Area School District saw a 15% rise
• Superior School District reported they do not track district-wide totals

Some communities have stepped up to help. Generous donations eliminated Eau Claire’s debt entirely and reduced Wausau’s net debt increase to 27%. Still, the upward trend of need is clear.

If a parent receives food stamp benefits, known as SNAP, or Medicaid, then their children automatically qualify for free or reduced lunch. However, the current administration’s Big Beautiful Bill made historic cuts to those benefits, meaning fewer families may qualify for them.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that as a result of the Big Beautiful Bill, 3.2 million people will lose food stamp benefits over the next decade, including 800,000 adults who live with children ages 7 and older.

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