Arrowhead’s $261M capital referendum only suburban Milwaukee schools measure to fail
(This story was updated to add new information.)
While the presidential election was a big focus for a lot of voters Nov. 5, those residing in 13 suburban Milwaukee school districts also had to decide on referendums, with voters in some districts having to decide on more than one question, passing a majority of them.
Voters passed referendums in the Cudahy, Franklin, Glendale-River Hills, Maple Dale-Indian Hill, Mequon-Thiensville, Mukwonago, Oak Creek-Franklin, St. Francis, Wauwatosa, West Allis-West Milwaukee, West Bend and Whitnall school districts.
Voters in the Arrowhead Union High School District split on two referendum questions posed there, narrowly approving a $7.6 million operational referendum while rejecting a proposed $261.2 million facilities referendum.
Here are the results of each referendum.
Arrowhead $7.6 million operational referendum passed, $261.2 million capital referendum failed
Results: 12,271 yes, 11,879 no on the operational referendum, 10,005 yes, 14,092 no on the capital referendum
What and how much: The first question, which passed, asked for $7.6 million in operational expenses split over four years, $1.9 million per year. The second question, which failed, asked for $261.2 million to build a new high school.
Tax impact: School taxes would have increased by $1.93 per $1,000 of property value if both questions had passed. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $1.81 per $1,000 of property value. But since voters approved only the first question, school taxes will increase by just 2 cents per $1,000, to a total of $1.83 per $1,000.
Scope of the two referendum questions: The operational referendum funds educational, operational and maintenance expenses. The facilities referendum would have built one new high school building to would replace Arrowhead High School's current two campus building setup.
Why it's needed: The district said the operational referendum is needed due to state funding not keeping up with inflation. At the same time, the district said cost increases such as those for utilities, transportation and others have not stopped. The district said the facilities referendum was needed because of safety concerns about students and staff traveling between its two buildings and inefficiencies caused by duplicate staffing and unused space.
Cudahy $10.4 million operational referendum passed, $12.4 million capital referendum passed
Results: 5,350 yes, 3,614 no on the operational referendum, 5,590 yes, 3,301 no on the capital referendum
What and how much: The first question asked for $10.4 million in operational expenses while the second question asked for $12.4 million in facilities improvements.
Tax impact: An additional $2.01 per $1,000 of property value. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.74 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the two referendum questions: The operational referendum supports education programming and staff by providing $5.2 million each year for two years, 2025-26 and 2026-27, for a total of $10.4 million. The facilities referendum covers critical maintenance projects, as well as safety and security updates at all six of the district's schools.
Why it’s needed: The district said the facilities referendum is needed to address its infrastructure and maintenance needs. As for the operational referendum, the district said it is needed to address a funding shortfall caused by declining enrollment, increasing costs and lower state aid.
Last referendum: April 2020, when voters approved an $11.75 million operational referendum.
Franklin $145 million capital referendum passed
Results: 9811 yes, 7954 no
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 would fund updates and expansion at Franklin High School, as well as updates to the high school and the district's five elementary schools that would 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.
Glendale-River Hills $9 million operational referendum passes
Results: 5,156 yes, 3,367 no
What and how much: Operational referendum providing $4.5 million per year for two years, in 2024-25 and 2025-26, $9 million total
Tax impact: $1.16 per $1,000 of property value for the 2024-25 school year. The tax rate is likely to decrease in the 2025-26 school year because of the expiration of the district's 2019 operational referendum following the 2024-25 school year. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.13 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the referendum: The referendum will fund district operations including staff salaries and benefits and instructional programming for students.
Why its needed: Like other school districts, the district said state funding has not kept up with inflation.
Last referendum: Voters approved an operational referendum in April 2019 that brought in $7.9 million total that was spread out over five years. The funds for that referendum started in the 2020-21 school year and will end after the 2024-25 school year.
Maple Dale-Indian Hill $1.75 million recurring operational referendum passes
Results: 2,248 yes, 1,472 no
What and how much: A $1.75 million per year recurring operational referendum with no end date.
Tax impact: Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the school tax rate would increase by an additional 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed property. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $7.27 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the referendum: The district said the funds would help it avoid cutting critical programs and services, maintain its facilities and continue delivering a high-quality education to students.
Why it's needed: The district said while it can handle an anticipated $390,108 budget shortfall for the 2024-25 school year, it cannot sustain future deficits, citing rising costs and state-imposed revenue limits that have not kept up with inflation.
Last referendum: Voters approved two referendum questions in April 2019; a $16.37 million facilities referendum addressing capital maintenance projects and high-priority safety, security and learning space improvements at both Maple Dale and Indian Hill schools; and an operational referendum that provided $9.8 million spread out over 10 years, which will end after the 2028-29 school year.
Mequon-Thiensville $26.4 million operational referendum passed
Results: 9,900 yes, 9087 no
What and how much: $26.4 million operational referendum, with funds spread over four years.
Tax impact: 73 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value over four years (since the referendum passed, if the referendum would have passed). That number would increase by these varying amounts each of the four years, assuming no other tax rate increases; $7.25 per $1,000 in Year 1; to $7.37 per $1,000 in Year 2; to $7.45 per $1,000 in Year 3 and to $7.54 per $1,000 in Year 4. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.81 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the referendum: The district said the funds would help it balance its budget without using reserves; develop competitive compensation for teachers and higher starting wages for support staff to help recruit and retain high-quality educators; manage healthcare costs; work on delayed maintenance projects and protect the district's financial bond rating.
Why it's needed: The district said it's facing a projected $6 million deficit for the 2024-25 school year and said its state-imposed revenue limits have limited the amount it can raise through state aid and property taxes. It also cited challenges with inflation, rising operational costs and unfunded mandates.
Last referendum: In April 2020, district voters approved a $55.7 million facilities referendum that funded additions and renovated spaces to accommodate building capacity and projected enrollment growth. The funds also helped with safety and security improvements districtwide.
Mukwonago $89.1 million capital referendum passed
Results: 10,360 yes, 9,956 no
What and how much: $89.1 million facilities referendum
Tax impact: An additional 24 cents per $1,000 of fair market value. The district's 2023-24 school tax rate was $6.20 per $1,000.
Scope of the project: Funds will support building a new sixth- through eighth-grade middle school.
Why it's needed: The district said the existing middle school building was constructed in 1954 and needs replacement of major building systems as well as other repairs. Other issues with the existing building include an inefficient layout, small classrooms and narrow, congested hallways.
Last referendum: In April, district voters rejected a $102.3 million facilities referendum that would have included other projects along with building a new middle school.
Oak Creek-Franklin: $34.3 million capital referendum passed
Results: 13,899 yes, 9,387 no
What and how much: $34.3 million facilities referendum
Tax impact: Neutral, as the district said it would pause paying future debt and reallocate the funds to pay for the new referendum. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $8.06 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the project: The referendum will fund the building of two new pools at Oak Creek High School, one for competition and the other for the community.
Why it's needed: The district said the school's pool is outdated and needs significant repairs. Additionally, it is not properly sized for expansion to meet WIAA standards without compromising other essential areas.
Last referendum: In November 2018, voters approved a $60.9 million facilities referendum that funded safety improvements, elementary gyms, a performing arts education center, technical education renovations at Oak Creek High School, equity improvements at all levels, new athletic fields and athletic field improvements.
St. Francis approves $10.2 million operational referendum
Results: 3,362 yes, 2,154 no
What and how much: An operational referendum providing an additional $600,000 for the 2024-25 school year and an additional $2.4 million per year from the 2025-26 school year through the 2028-29 school year, for a total of $10.2 million.
Tax impact: In 2023-24, the district's school tax rate was $10.47 per $1,000. Since the referendum passed, it is projected to decrease to $10.25 per $1,000 in 2024-25; to $10.24 per $1,000 in 2025-26; to $10.22 per $1,000 in 2026-27; up slightly to $10.25 per $1,000 in 2027-28 and then down to $9.89 per $1,000 in 2028-29.
St. Francis School District director of finance Jackson Parker previously told the Journal Sentinel that because the district paid off some of its previous referendum debt early and because of an increase in state equalization aid, the district is projecting the school tax rate to decrease.
The tax rate was expected to decrease regardless of whether the referendum passed.
Why it's needed: The district cited the failure of state funding to keep up with rising costs, federal pandemic relief funding ending and the district's most recent operational referendum expiring next year as reasons behind the needed referendum.
Last referendum: Voters passed two referendum questions in April 2021; a $30.6 million facilities referendum that funded renovations and additions at Willow Glen Primary and Deer Creek Intermediate Schools, as well as districtwide capital maintenance, building improvements, safety, security and accessibility updates; and a operational referendum providing the district an additional $800,000 per year for four years, from 2021-22 to 2024-25, $3.2 million total, to address a projected operating deficit.
Wauwatosa $60 million capital referendum passed, $64.4 million operational referendum passed
Results: 18,095 in favor, 12,890 opposed on question 1, 17,663 in favor, 13,310 opposed on question 2
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: $2.10 per $1,000 of property value since both questions pass. 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 funds district operations including salaries, benefits, and instructional and co-curricular programming. The facilities referendum funds 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.
West Allis-West Milwaukee $5.8 million recurring referendum passed, $70 million facilities referendum passed
Results: 18,579 voted yes, 11,876 voted no on question 1, 19,659 voted yes, 10,588 voted no on question 2
What and how much: Two-question referendum; a recurring operational referendum for $5.8 million per year with no end date and a $70 million facilities referendum
Tax impact: $1.08 per $1,000 of property value since both referendum questions passed. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.69 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the two referendum questions: The operational referendum would support staff raises, while the facilities referendum would support districtwide facility improvements, including safety, security and accessibility upgrades.
Why it's needed: The district said the operational referendum was needed to provide funding due to state-imposed revenue limits not keeping up with rising costs. It said the facilities referendum would address the district's aging buildings that, on average, are almost 80 years old with a capital need of $275 million.
Last referendum: Voters rejected a $149.8 million facilities referendum in April 2022 that would have closed Nathan Hale and West Allis Central high schools and created one new, consolidated high school.
West Bend $106.25 million facilities referendum passed
Results: 18,470 yes, 13,657 no
What and how much: $106.25 million facilities referendum
Tax impact: An estimated $1.02 per $1,000 of fair market property value. The district's 2023-24 school tax rate was $5.20 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the project: The referendum would fund construction of a new Jackson Elementary School building, tackle other projects at buildings across the district, as well as fund the closing of Fair Park and Decorah Park elementary schools, Rolfs Education Center and the Education Service Center building.
Why it's needed: The district's 2023 facilities assessment found many buildings are aging, outdated and need over $200 million in capital maintenance and basic building needs. The district also wants to address declining enrollment, improve its educational environments, be more efficient with its resources and reduce long-term operating costs.
Last referendum: Voters rejected a $47 million facilities referendum in April 2019 that not only would have built a new Jackson Elementary School, but would also have funded improvements to West Bend East/West High School.
Whitnall $79.1 million capital referendum passed
Results: 7,160 yes, 3,944 no
What and how much: $79.1 million facilities referendum
Tax impact: The referendum had been previously estimated to have a tax impact of an additional 35 cents per $1,000 of property value. However, the district announced Oct. 22 the number had been revised to 3 cents per $1,000 after final figures for property values and state aid came in. The district's 2023-24 school tax rate was $7.15 per $1,000 of property value.
Scope of the project: The referendum will fund facility projects at each district school. Whitnall High School, for example, will receive renovations to its science wing, kitchen, auditorium, locker rooms, gyms, weight/fitness area, along with the addition of an eight-lane pool, support spaces, mezzanine seating and event lobby.
Why it's needed: The district said that because it paid off its 2018 referendum debt 14 years early while seeing continuing declines in its school tax rate, the time is right to address facility needs while keeping the school tax rate close to the current rate.
Last referendum: In April 2018, voters approved a $16.16 million facilities referendum that funded Americans with Disabilities Act compliance updates, pool improvements and site improvements at Whitnall High School; science lab renovations and ADA compliance updates at Whitnall Middle School; ADA compliance updates at Edgerton Elementary School; and additions of classrooms, a secure main entrance, site improvements and demolition of portions at the building at Hales Corners Elementary School.
More: The number of Wisconsin school referendums this year is up – way up. Here’s why.
This story will be updated with additional results.
Maia Pandey and Cleo Krejci contributed to this report.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or [email protected]. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Millions of dollars in suburban Milwaukee school referendums pass
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