Preliminary results show many Wisconsin school districts successfully made the case to voters Tuesday that schools were in need of additional tax support.
Voters in 137 school districts were asked to approve increased funding for schools. A preliminary analysis by the Wisconsin Policy Forum found 107 referendum questions passed, while 30 failed.
School districts are funded by a mix of taxpayer dollars, state and federal aid.
The 2023-25 state budget included an annual funding increase for public schools of $325 per student to the state-imposed limit on revenues districts can receive in school aids and local property taxes combined.
While this provides some relief, school districts say it didn’t catch them up from a freeze in state revenue caps in the previous two-year budget, or the declining enrollment many public school districts are experiencing.
Voters in Madison approved two referendums totaling more than $600 million.
The first, for $100 million, will help the school district cover its operating costs. The second, for $507 million, will renovate and replace aging buildings.
Other school districts to pass referendums include Green Bay, Wauwatosa, West Allis, Cudahy, Franklin, Glendale-River Hills, Eau Claire and Superior.
The Green Bay Area Public School District’s $183 million referendum will pay to enhance safety and security at secondary schools and address deferred maintenance projects at several elementary schools.