Marshall's second attempt at a $5 million referendum this year set to pass

Marshall school district voters are set to approve a $5.6 million operational referendum to preserve staffing after a capital referendum of a similar size failed last spring.

Shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday night, nearly 57% of voters agreed to raise the district's tax levy by $1.8 million a year. Only the township of York was left outstanding.

The three-year, $5.6 million non-recurring operating referendum would increase the tax levy by $1,875,000 annually. This referendum is asking voters to effectively renew a $2.9 million referendum that passed in 2022 and provided $975,000 annually to the district, in addition to adding another $900,000 onto the tax levy.

The operating referendum will maintain the status quo, District Administrator Dan Grady told the Wisconsin State Journal Monday. A second failed referendum this year would have led to deeper staff cuts. As a district with declining enrollment, Marshall's budget often gets smaller each year as state aid per pupil has not kept pace with inflation and the chronic declining enrollment, Grady explained.

"Every district is going to lead with reductions in staff, because depending on the district, anywhere from 70 to 80 cents in every dollar that's collected in taxes goes towards staffing," Grady said. "Unfortunately, it's the number of employees so we can have working with kids."

This is the second time this year the Marshall school district came to voters with a referendum. Its failed $5 million capital referendum this spring would have paid for upgraded secure entrances for its four schools and a roof replacement at the elementary school.

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