Why are so many districts going to referendum?
Welcome to Quinton’s K-12 Corner, a series discussing the biggest education issues in a simple way. Wisconsin’s children deserve the best schools in America. This series provides solutions to the major problems facing parents, taxpayers, superintendents, and new state leadership. If you have suggestions, comments, or questions, email QK@ReformingGovernment.org.
Where We Are
Superintendent Jill Underly did not get much right in her State of Education address September 24. But this was correct: “Record numbers of referendums put pressure on communities.”
Unfortunately, taxpayers often receive misleading information about why those referenda are occurring. No, school choice does not cause referenda, despite what some districts say. No, schools are not short $3,571 per student in funding, despite what some districts say. (That would equal a $2.79 billion tax increase!)
The actual explanations are less outlandish. Health insurance costs are hammering district budgets. The federal government heavily regulates special education but provides paltry funding for disabled students. Schools employ record levels of staff as enrollment continues collapsing. And the funding formula really is bad and broken.
So, how can you tell why your district is going to referendum?
Where We Could Go
The Institute for Reforming Government has updated its easy-to-use 2026 School Referenda Tool here.
It has the information you need to know:
- how much your district has requested.
- whether the referendum is temporary or permanent.
- how many students your district has lost versus how many staff it has lost (or added!).
Every taxpayer can ask their district whether they are putting students first by trimming expenses before they ask taxpayers to cover more costs for the same results. Some districts have not made difficult choices as fewer and fewer children fill their classrooms. They instead force that difficult choice onto taxpayers.
In the decade ahead, Wisconsin schools will face financial challenges they never have before. A healthy community will manage those changes responsibly and cooperatively, not shrivel as the tap runs dry.
