Wisconsin voters OK'd a record $4.4 billion in school referendums this year
Wisconsin voters approved a record $4.4 billion in school funding this year, with one out of every three school districts in Wisconsin passing a referendum, according to a new Wisconsin Policy Forum report published Thursday.
That shatters the previous record of $2.7 billion generated through school referendums in 2020, the report states. Altogether, 241 referendum questions appeared on local ballots this year.
By approving referendums, voters agree to raise their own property taxes to fund district operations or to repay debt issued for construction or renovation projects. In Wisconsin, referendums are the only way to exceed the state-imposed spending limits placed on school districts.
As districts grapple with a funding system that hasn't kept pace with the rate of inflation, more and more districts are seeking approval of referendums to fund operations.
School districts also frequently ask voters to approve capital referendums to fund building projects.
According to the report:
Wisconsin school districts proposed 148 operating referendums this year, with voters ultimately approving 98 of them. The state set records for the number of proposed operating referendums and for the number that were approved.
The Madison School District's pair of referendums — $507 million to build and renovate school buildings and $100 million for operations — was the largest funding request put to voters this year. Both received strong support from Madison residents, with an approval rating of about 70% on both the operating and capital questions.
Six other Dane County districts had successful referendums on Nov. 5, too.
Statewide, voters approved about 70% of school referendums in 2024. That's a decrease of about 10% from 2022.
The Department of Public Instruction and state Superintendent Jill Underly are proposing spending nearly all of Wisconsin's $4.6 billion surplus on public schools.
The $4 billion in new funding DPI is seeking would simultaneously limit property tax growth and mean fewer districts need to go to referendum, Underly said.
"We have the surplus now and we haven't used it," Underly said Monday while announcing DPI's budget request. "For the past 15 years, our kids have lived in austerity, even when our state economy has been doing well. The time is now. We need to invest in our schools."
Under DPI's budget request, school spending limits would increase by $425 per student in 2026 and by another $437.75 per student in 2027.
Underly also is proposing the reimbursement rate for special education costs increase to 75% in 2026 and to 90% in 2027. The state currently reimburses school districts for about one-third of special education expenses.
The Madison School District's pair of referendums — $507 million to build and renovate school buildings and $100 million for operations — was the largest funding request put to voters this year.
