Franklin, Wauwatosa school referendums pass
In addition to the presidential race, local voters in more than a dozen suburban Milwaukee school districts had referendums on their ballots Tuesday. Some districts had more than one question to decide.
Here are the results of each referendum.
Franklin $145 million capital referendum passed
Results:
What and how much: A $145 million facilities referendum
Tax impact: An estimated additional 82 cents per $1,000 of property value. The district's 2023-24 school tax rate was $7.94 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the project: The referendum will fund updates and expansion at Franklin High School, as well as updates to the high school and the district's five elementary schools to address Americans with Disabilities Act compliance; improve fire alarm/sprinkler and security systems; repair and replace roof sections; repair building exteriors; repair major building systems; improve energy efficiency and repair sidewalks and parking lots.
Why it's needed: Long-range facility planning and a community survey showed the need and support for projects that include updating and expanding Franklin High School's career and technical education areas and its physical education and athletics facilities, building classrooms and special education areas, renovating science labs and expanding parking for staff, students and events. The survey also indicated support for addressing aging HVAC, roofing, building exteriors, energy efficiency and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance at its five elementary school buildings and Franklin High School.
Last referendum: Voters passed a $43.3 million facilities referendum in November 2016 to build a new Forest Park Middle School. The old Forest Park Middle School building was demolished.
Wauwatosa $60 million capital referendum passed, $64.4 million operational referendum passed
Results:
What and how much: The first question sought $60 million for facilities improvements. The second question sought an additional $64.4 million spread over four years, ending in the 2028-20 school year, to help with operational expenses.
Tax impact: With both questions passed, $2.10 per $1,000 of property value. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.68 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the two referendum questions: The operational referendum will fund district operations including salaries, benefits, and instructional and co-curricular programming. The facilities referendum will fund delayed maintenance projects and projects to meet Americans with Disabilities Act facilities standards at Eisenhower, Madison, Roosevelt, Jefferson and Washington elementary schools; the Fisher Administration building, which houses Wauwatosa Montessori, and at Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West high schools.
Why it's needed: The district said the operational referendum would help it handle operational needs that have been made more difficult by a lack of state funding. It said the facilities referendum would help it to address issues at aging facilities, particularly schools that are not in compliance with ADA standards.Last referendum: Voters passed a $124.9 million referendum in November 2018 that primarily focused on new construction and renovations to Lincoln, McKinley, Underwood and Wilson/WSTEM elementary schools.
This story will be updated with additional results.
Maia Pandey contributed to this report.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or . Follow him on X (Twitter) at .
