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Legislative Update


Number of revenue limit referenda in 2022 reaches all-time high

by | Oct 14, 2022 | Election, Legislative Update Blog, State Budget, State Issue, Uncategorized

There will be 42 school district referenda on the Nov. 8 ballot seeking authority to increase revenue limit authority.  That is in addition to the 50 such questions that have already gone before school district voters this year.  We believe the 92 referendums seeking additional operating revenues is the highest total ever in a single calendar year.  The highest previous total in a calendar year was 82, set in 2000 and equaled in 2001. 

The large number of revenue limit referenda is not surprising given the recent history of a frozen revenue limits and high inflation.  There has been no per pupil increase in revenue limits in six of the past eight years and revenue limits were frozen for both the 2021-22 an 2022-23 school year. 

When you add in the 74 ballot questions asking for authority to issue debt for facilities related projects, the total number of school district referendum questions is the highest it has been since calendar year 2000, when 192 school district referenda of all types took place. (That 2000 total was prior to restrictions being placed on when school district referenda cold take place and how many times a district could place referendum questions before voters in a calendar year.)

So far this year, 44 of the 50 ballot questions (88 percent) seeking to raise revenue limits have been approved by voters. Of the 41 non-recurring (or temporary) requests to raise revenue limits, 38 were approved (92.7 percent).  Voters approved a lower percentage of recurring requests (or permanent) requests with 6 of 9 ballot questions (66.7 percent) receiving approval. 

Of the 42 revenue limit questions on the Nov. 8 ballot, two-thirds (28) request non-recurring authority to increase revenue limits, while one-third (14) ask for recurring authority.

Here is a table showing all the revenue limit (operating) referendums on the Nov. 8 ballot statewide:

District

Amount

Type

Brief Description

 

Adams-Friendship Area

2022-2023 $1,700,000  
2023-2024 $3,200,000  
2024-2025 $3,700,000  
2025-2026 $4,000,000  
Total: $12,600,000  

 

NR 2025-2026

To exceed the revenue limit for four years at a total cost of $12.6 million.

Appleton Area

2023 $5,000,000  
Total: $5,000,000  

RR 2023

To exceed the revenue limit by $5,000,000 annually to fund increased staffing at the K – 2 level, which would allow us to reduce class sizes, add STEM staffing at the elementary and middle levels, and fund expenses for ongoing school building maintenance, cleaning, and utility costs.

 

Athens

2022 $900,000  
2023 $770,000  
Total: $1,670,000  

RR 2023

To exceed the revenue limit for recurring purposes.

Belleville

2023 $999,999  
Total: $999,999  

RR 2023

 

To exceed the revenue limit by $999,999 beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, for recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses.

 

Clayton

2022 $1,545,000  
Total: $1,545,000  

RR 2022

To exceed the revenue cap for recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses.

 

Cuba City

2023 $200,000  
Total: $200,000  

RR 2023

Recurring Referendum

to exceed the revenue cap for recurring purposes.

 

Delavan-Darien

2023-2024 $3,800,000  
2024-2025 $3,800,000  
2025-2026 $3,800,000  
2026-2027 $3,800,000  
Total: $15,200,000  

 

NR 2026-2027

4-Year Non-Recurring Operational Referendum to exceed revenue cap by $3,800,000 beginning in 2023-2024 and ending in 2026-2027.

 

Denmark

2023-2024 $925,000  
2024-2025 $925,000  
2025-2026 $925,000  
Total: $2,775,000  

 

NR 2025-2026

To exceed revenue limit by $925,000 per year for three years for non-recurring purposes.

 

Fort Atkinson

 

2023-2024 $4,000,000  
2024-2025 $4,000,000  
2025-2026 $5,000,000  
Total: $13,000,000  

 

 

NR 2025-2026

To exceed revenue limit by the following amounts: $4M – 2023-24; $4M – 2024-25; and $5M – 2025-26 for non-recurring purposes.

Fort Atkinson

 

2022 $3,000,000  
Total: $3,000,000  

 

RR 2022

$3M Recurring beginning in 2022-23.

Fox Point J2

2023-2024 $3,100,000  
2024-2025 $3,100,000  
2025-2026 $3,100,000  
2026-2027 $3,100,000  
Total: $12,400,000  

 

NR 2026-2027

Non-Recurring Operational Referendum to exceed Revenue Limit by $3.1 Million per year for four Years, 2023-24 school year through 2026-27 school year.

 

North Crawford

2022 $300,000  
2023 $250,000  
2024 $200,000  
2025 $150,000  
Total: $900,000 

 

 

RR 2025

To exceed revenue limit for recurring purposes

Geneva J4

2023-2024 $750,000  
2024-2025 $1,000,000  
2025-2026 $1,250,000  
2026-2027 $1,500,000  
Total: $4,500,000

 

 

NR 2026-2027

To exceed Revenue Cap – from 2023-2024 to 2025-2026 for non-recurring purposes.

Gillett

2023-2024 $600,000  
2024-2025 $600,000  
2025-2026 $600,000  
Total: $1,800,000 

 

NR 2025-2026

3-year non-recurring referendum for $600,000 per year for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years.

 

Greenfield

2023-2024 $5,000,000  
2024-2025 $5,000,000  
2025-2026 $5,000,000  
2026-2027 $5,000,000  
Total: $20,000,000  

NR 2026-2027

To exceed the revenue limit by $5,000,000 per year beginning in the 2023-24 school year and every school year thereafter, through the 2026-27 school year, for non-recurring purposes.

 

Hilbert

2022 $200,000  
Total: $200,000  

RR 2022

 

To fund staffing in the career and technical education area as well as acquire additional equipment for the career and technical education area.

 

Hillsboro

2023-2024 $750,000  
2024-2025 $750,000  
2025-2026 $750,000  
2026-2027 $750,000  
Total: $3,000,000  

NR 2026-2027

 

For non-recurring purposes to maintain District facilities and current programs.

 

 

Holmen

2024 $650,000  
Total: $650,000  

RR 2024

 

For recurring purposes consisting of building maintenance and technology.

 

Lake Mills Area

2024 $950,000  
Total: $950,000  

RR 2024

 

Operational referendum for ongoing expenditures associated with a new intermediate school.

 

Loyal

2023-2024 $1,100,000  
2024-2025 $1,400,000  
2025-2026 $1,400,000  
2026-2027 $1,400,000  
2027-2028 $1,400,000  
Total: $6,700,000 

 

NR 2027-2028

To exceed revenue limit for five years for non-recurring purposes.

 

 

 

Merrill Area

2023-2024 $2,500,000  
2024-2025 $2,500,000  
2025-2026 $2,500,000  
2026-2027 $2,500,000  
Total: $10,000,000  

NR 2026-2027

 

Four-year Non-Recurring referendum in the amount of $2,500,000 per year beginning with the 2023-24 school year.

 

 

Middleton-Cross Plains

 

2023-2024 $7,345,000  
2024-2025 $13,790,000  
2025-2026 $19,435,000  
2026-2027 $24,900,000  
Total: $65,470,000 

 

NR 2026-2027

 

To exceed Revenue Limits for four years, non-recurring for expenses related to ongoing educational and extracurricular programming, and compensation, and other operational expenses.

 

Mount Horeb Area

2023 $4,820,000  
Total: $4,820,000  

 

RR 2023

To exceed Revenue Limits by $4,820,000 beginning with the 2023-2024 school year for recurring purposes.

 

North Fond Du Lac

2022-2023 $800,000  
2023-2024 $800,000  
2024-2025 $800,000  
Total: $2,400,000  

 

NR 2024-2025

To exceed Revenue Limit by $800,000 for 3 years for non-recurring purposes.

 

Onalaska

2023-2024 $1,250,000  
2024-2025 $4,800,000  
2025-2026 $5,000,000  
2026-2027 $5,200,000  
2027-2028 $5,400,000  
Total: $21,650,000 

 

NR 2027-2028

To exceed the revenue limit for operational purposes.

 

 

 

 

Oregon

2022 $5,420,000  
2023 $3,000,000  
2024 $2,980,000  
Total: $11,400,000 

 

RR 2024

To exceed the revenue limit by $5,420,000 for the 2022-2023 school year; by an additional $3,000,000 (for a total of $8,420,000) for the 2023-2024 school year; and by an additional $2,980,000 (for a total of $11,400,000) for the 2024-2025 school year and thereafter, for recurring purposes consisting of expenses to pay compensation and to sustain District instruction and operations.

 

Parkview

2023-2024 $2,000,000  
2024-2025 $2,000,000  
2025-2026 $2,000,000  
Total: $6,000,000  

 

NR 2025-2026

To exceed the revenue limit for non-recurring purposes.

 

 

Prairie Farm

2023-2024 $850,000  
2024-2025 $850,000  
2025-2026 $850,000  
2026-2027 $850,000  
2027-2028 $850,000  
Total: $4,250,000  

 

NR 2027-2028

 

 

General Operations

 

 

 

 

 

Pulaski Community

2023-2024 $1,500,000  
2024-2025 $1,600,000  
2025-2026 $1,700,000  
2026-2027 $1,800,000  
2027-2028 $1,900,000  
Total: $8,500,000  

 

NR 2027-2028

To exceed the revenue limit for purposes consisting of compensating and providing benefits to teachers and staff, maintaining programs and services, and operating facilities.

 

Rhinelander

2023-2024 $4,000,000  
2024-2025 $4,000,000  
2025-2026 $4,000,000  
2026-2027 $4,000,000  
Total: $16,000,000  

 

NR 2026-2027

 

To exceed the revenue limit for non-recurring purposes.

 

 

 

Ripon Area

2022-2023 $850,000  
2023-2024 $850,000  
2024-2025 $850,000  
2025-2026 $850,000  
2026-2027 $850,000  
2027-2028 $850,000  
Total: $5,100,000 

 

NR 2027-2028

A six-year non-recurring referendum to exceed revenue limits by $850,000 to sustain general operations.

 

 

Southern Door County

2023-2024 $975,000  
2024-2025 $975,000  
2025-2026 $975,000  
Total: $2,925,000  

NR 2025-2026

 

To exceed the Revenue Limit by $975,000 per year for three years for non-recurring purposes.

 

Stratford

2022-2023 $190,000  
2023-2024 $480,000  
2024-2025 $875,000  
2025-2026 $1,390,000  
Total: $2,935,000  

NR 2025-2026

 

To exceed the revenue limit by $190,000 for the 2022-2023 school year, by $480,000 for the 2023-2024 school year, by $875,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, and by $1,390,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses.

 

Sun Prairie Area

2022 $9,000,000  
Total: $9,000,000  

RR 2022

 

To pay for expenses related to maintaining class sizes, student services and staff compensation, providing for substitute teacher coverage, increasing mental health services for students, and ongoing safety and facility maintenance.

 

Three Lakes

2023-2024 $4,250,000  
2024-2025 $4,250,000  
2025-2026 $4,250,000  
2026-2027 $4,250,000  
2027-2028 $4,250,000  
Total: $21,250,000  

NR 2027-2028

Five-year, $4,250,000 per year, non-recurring referendum for operational expenses.

 

Verona Area

2023 $19,000,000  
Total: $19,000,000  

RR 2023

 

To exceed the revenue limit by $19,000,000 for the 2022-2023 school year and thereafter, for recurring purposes consisting of expenses related to ongoing educational programming, maintaining and supporting instructional and extracurricular programs, and paying salary and other operational expenses.

 

Waterloo

2022-2023 $700,000  
2023-2024 $700,000  
2024-2025 $700,000  
2025-2026 $700,000  
2026-2027 $700,000  
Total: $3,500,000  

NR 2026-2027

 

To exceed the Revenue Limit by $700,000 per year for five years for non-recurring purposes.

 

 

Waunakee Community

2022-2023 $1,000,000  
2023-2024 $3,000,000  
2024-2025 $6,000,000  
Total: $10,000,000  

NR 2024-2025

 

To exceed the revenue limit for purposes consisting of expenses related to attracting and retaining staff, operating and maintaining any additional school facilities, and maintaining current programs and services.

 

Waupun

2022-2023 $980,000  
2023-2024 $980,000  
2024-2025 $980,000  
Total: $2,940,000  

NR 2024-2025

 

To exceed the revenue limit by $980,000 each year for three years; 2022-23, 2023-24, & 2024-25.

 

 

Wauzeka-Steuben

2022-2023 $352,000  
2023-2024 $950,000  
2024-2025 $950,000  
2025-2026 $1,100,000  
Total: $3,352,000  

NR 2025-2026

 

4-year non-recurring operational referendum.

 

 

Whitewater

2023-2024 $4,400,000  
2024-2025 $4,400,000  
2025-2026 $4,400,000  
2026-2027 $4,400,000  
Total: $17,600,000  

NR 2026-2027

 

To exceed the revenue limit for maintaining targeted class sizes, maintaining student support and mental health services, maintaining comprehensive instructional and co-curricular programs, and maintaining technology, safety, and facilities infrastructure.

 

Wisconsin Dells

2022-2023 $1,200,000  
2023-2024 $1,200,000  
2024-2025 $1,200,000  
2025-2026 $1,200,000  
Total: $4,800,000  

NR 2025-2026

4-Year, Non-Recurring Operational Referendum for $1,200,000 per year ($4,800,000 total) from 2022-23 through 2025-26 school year.

 

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