A referendum is a vote on a policy or financial question referred to the general electorate by a government body, including a school board. Wisconsin school districts are permitted to seek two primary types of referendum questions:
- Districts use facilities referenda to seek voter input on paying for school construction projects.
- An operational referendum seeks voter authority to exceed state-imposed revenue limits on the district’s operating budget, which pays for expenses like academic programming, student services, and other day-to-day operating costs.
- A non-recurring referendum allows the additional tax for any given number of years. The tax has a “sunset” and once it is done, the district will no longer have the authority to levy, unless it goes back to referendum.
- A recurring referendum allows the additional tax indefinitely. The tax is added to the base calculation of the revenue limit.
The revenue limit is a fundamental principle in Wisconsin school finance. Passed into law in 1993-94, the revenue limit uses a complex formula to determine the total revenue that can be raised through general state aid and property taxes.
For more information, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) website.
Increases to the revenue limit change primarily through a per-pupil increase. For years, school districts could rely on predictable annual increases to the revenue limit, making budget planning easier. This is no longer the case. School districts like Reedsburg can no longer count on predictable per-pupil increases in state funding.
At the same time, costs are increasing. Had the revenue limit kept up with inflation, the district would have $2,690 per student than it does today.
School districts throughout Wisconsin are facing this very same problem. Like Reedsburg, districts face limited options:
- Cut programs and services, or
- Ask voters to allow the district to exceed the revenue limits.
On November 5, voters in the School District of Reedsburg will be asked to vote on one operating referendum and one facilities referendum.
Operational referendum: The district is seeking voters’ authority to exceed state-imposed revenue limited by $4 million annually for each of the next four years. If approved, this non-recurring referendum would sunset after the 2027-28 school year.
Facilities referendum: The district is proposing to issue general bonds in the amount of $14 million to renovate Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces in Reedsburg Area High School.
If approved, the additional operating revenue would be used to:
- Fill projected budget deficits in each of the four years as a result of shortfalls in state funding;
- Maintain and expand on our current focus to provide rigorous academic programs and career pathways for all students;
- Keep class sizes as low as possible at ALL grade levels;
- Continue to attract and retain high-quality staff;
- Address the most urgent maintenance needs at Webb Middle School.
If approved, the $14 million investment at Reedsburg Area High School (RAHS) would be used to:
- Renovate and update equipment in the Construction Trades, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Agriculture spaces;
- Add a new greenhouse and provide space for new and innovative programs in Agriculture, Animal Science, and Natural Resources;
- Renovate the library, large group room, and two adjacent classrooms to create the new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship;
- Lightly renovated the cafeteria / commons.
The estimated tax impact for both referendum questions combined is an increase of $.06 cents per $1,000 dollars of property value. The projected 2024-2025 tax rate with both questions approved is estimated to increase from $7.00 to $7.06. The District will maintain this rate by adjusting its early payments on existing debt.
The district's long-term facilities plan includes the construction of a new middle school. However, when surveyed in spring 2024, community feedback was mixed.
The district, therefore, developed a less costly plan. If approved, a portion of the November 5 operational referendum will be used to address high-priority maintenance needs at the current Webb Middle School, keeping the building warm, safe, and dry while the school remains operational.
It is important to remember that the Board of Education concluded that Webb Middle School will need to be replaced in the coming years. Replacement of Webb remains part of the District’s long-term facilities plan.
The School District of Reedsburg values community input. The District took several steps to ensure the residents had a voice in the referendum planning process:
- In the Winter of 2023, the District hosted several facilities planning meetings and invited the community.
- The District used a Spring 2024 community-wide survey to gather feedback about facilities panning.
- The District was - and continues to be - in regular contact with business stakeholders, which helps align our facilities with regional labor market needs.
As Election Day approaches, the District will continue to provide the information voters need to make an informed decision about the two November 5 referendum questions.
This is not possible. If approved, the district can finance no more than $14 million.
The District prides itself on fiscal responsibility and has recently taken several significant steps to manage its budget. The District has:
- Made cost-saving changes to its health plan.
- Closed Ironton-LaValle and Loganville elementary schools to reduce long-term operating costs in 2022.
- Reduced staffing
- Paid off debt early, saving over $3.3 million in interest
- And more
The District has been responsible with taxpayer funds. However, inflation and the lack of predictable per-public state funding has led us to ask voters to consider an operational referendum to help support our programs and services.
The School District of Reedsburg is serving an increasing number of Special Education students. However, the state only funds approximately 30% of Special Education costs. Last year, the District was forced to transfer $4.7 million to cover Special Education programming. This is not sustainable.
Phase I:
Light renovation of the commons and development renovation of existing spaces to create the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be completed in September 2025.
Phase II:
Renovation of the existing Construction Trades, Manufacturing, and Agriculture spaces, as well as an added greenhouse and space for new programs in Animal Science and Natural Resources, will be completed in September 2026.
If you are being reassessed, it means that the local assessor is adjusting the assessed values of the properties in your municipality to reflect current market conditions. The process is intended to bring the assessment in-line with the Fair Market or Equalized value of your property. This process is necessary to ensure fair distribution of tax burden.
Reassessment does not change the tax revenue the school district collects, but it can shift the amount you personally contribute. If your new assessment increases compared to others in the municipality, your share of the taxes may go up. Conversely, if your assessment decreases or increases less than others, your share will go down.
Fair market value, or equalized value, represents the estimated market worth of properties within a municipality or school district. The individual municipality determines property assessments, which will vary by municipality. Equalized value is used to standardize these assessments. This ensures that all property owners, regardless of location, are taxed equitably based on the actual value of their property. This approach helps create a more consistent and fair tax system across the district or region. In Wisconsin, schools are required by law to use fair market value, which is clearly indicated on your tax bill.
Did you know that graduates who are off at college and/or School District of Reedsburg residents who go south during the fall and winter months can still make their vote count in this election by voting absentee? Check out the MyVote website, which explains absentee voting and allows a voter to register and request an absentee ballot. The short videos are also very clear and informative, and voters can begin requesting absentee ballots on September 20. MyVote Website
Visit the MyVote website to:
- Find your polling place
- Register to vote
- Learn about photo ID requirements
- Request an absentee ballot
- Gather information about early, in-person voting
- Find contact information for your municipal clerk and more!
In-person absentee voting starts in Wisconsin on (date) and closes (date). However, each municipality has different in-person voting hours so please contact your municipality directly to confirm your options. Go to MyVote website to find your local municipality information.
Anyone who lives in the District is 18 years of age and is registered to vote can cast a ballot on November 5th. A person who is not registered to vote can register at their polling place on the same day of the referendum by providing proof of age and residence.
Polling places are located throughout the district, as we have 20 municipalities that are wholly or partially in the District. You need to vote at the polling place that is assigned to the village or town in which you live.
Please seek information at this site: MyVote Website - Find My Polling Place.
In Wisconsin, you need to have certain items with you to vote. Here's what you'll need:
- Proof of Identification: You must provide a valid form of identification (ID) before you can vote. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Wisconsin driver's license or Wisconsin state ID card
- Military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service
- U.S. passport
- Tribal ID card issued by a federally recognized tribe in Wisconsin
- Certificate of naturalization issued within the last two years
- An identification card issued by a Wisconsin-accredited university or college that contains a photo, name of the student, and an issuance date no later than two years before the election
- Proof of Residency (for first-time voters): If you're registering to vote for the first time in Wisconsin or updating your voter registration, you must provide proof of residency. This could include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or other official documents showing your name and current address.
Remember to check your polling place location and hours before heading out to vote. If you have any questions or concerns about voting requirements or procedures, you can contact your local municipal clerk's office or the Wisconsin Elections Commission for assistance.
Absentee and Early Voting Early voting begins on September 19. There are different deadlines to request an absentee ballot or vote in-person depending on where you live or if you are in the military, overseas, indefinitely confined, or in the hospital.
An absentee ballot must be returned by mail or delivered to your municipal clerk and must be received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5. Visit the My Vote Wisconsin Deadline page to learn more.
MyVote Website
The two referendum questions are independent of one another. Therefore, electors may vote “yes” or “no” on each of the two questions, and the voting results of one referendum question will not impact the other. Depending on the final voting results, one, both, or neither referendum questions may be approved by the electorate.
If you are unable to vote in person on (date), you can vote early by using an absentee ballot. You need to request an absentee ballot by contacting the municipal clerk of the village or town in which you live. Please seek information at this site: MyVote Website - Find My Polling Place
Each referendum question needs 50% plus 1 of the votes cast to be “yes” in order to pass. In recent years, many school referendums have been decided by less than ten votes–this demonstrates that everyone’s vote is important!
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