More than a dozen Milwaukee area school districts have referendums on the November ballot, seeking millions of dollars Here's what to know:

(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

Editor's note: A previous version of this story included outdated information about the reasons behind the Franklin referendum.

Over a dozen Milwaukee area school districts are placing referendums on the November ballot.

Voters in these school districts will have referendums to decide on that are seeking either to make facility improvements or fund school operations: Arrowhead, 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.

Here's what each of these referendums entail:

Arrowhead

What: Two questions, one for facilities and the other for operational expenses

How much: $261.2 million for facilities and $7.6 million for operational expenses

Tax impact: An increase of $1.93 per $1,000 of property value should both questions pass. The owner of a $400,000 home would pay an additional $772 in school taxes annually. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $1.81 per $1,000 of property value.

Scope of the facilities referendum: Build one new high school building that would replace the district's North and South campus buildings.

Scope of the operational referendum: The district would receive an additional $1.9 million over four years starting in the 2025-26 school year and ending in the 2028-29 school year to support educational, operational and maintenance expenses.

Why it’s needed: The district said the facilities referendum is needed because of safety concerns about students and staff traveling between its North and South campus buildings, as well as inefficiencies caused by duplications in staffing and unused space by having two buildings.

The district said the operational referendum is needed because state funding has not kept up with inflation while costs such as utilities and insurance continue to increase.

Last referendum: November 2020. Voters approved an operational referendum providing $1.7 million per year for five years, totaling $8.5 million. The funds focused on high-priority needs in technology, facility and site infrastructure improvements.

Cudahy

What: Two questions, one for facilities and the other for operational expenses

How much: $12.4 million for facilities improvements and $10.4 million for operational expenses

Tax impact: $2.01 per $1,000 of property value if both questions pass. For a $250,000 home, the owner would pay an additional $502.50 annually in school taxes. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.74 per $1,000 of property value.

Scope of the facilities referendum: The facilities referendum would cover critical maintenance projects and safety and security updates at each of the district's six schools.

Scope of the operational referendum: The operational referendum would provide $10.4 million total over two years, $5.2 million each year in 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support education programming and staff.

Why it’s needed: To handle its infrastructure and maintenance needs for the facilities referendum. The operational referendum is needed to address a funding shortfall the district says is caused by declining enrollment, increasing costs and lower state aid revenue.

Last referendum: April 2020, when voters approved an $11.75 million operational referendum.

Franklin

What: Facilities referendum

How much: $145 million

Tax impact: An estimated additional 82 cents per $1,000 of property value. For a $400,000 home, the owner would pay an additional $328 in school taxes annually. 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. It would also fund updates for the district's five elementary schools and Franklin High School that would address Americans with Disabilities Act compliance; improving fire alarm/sprinkler and security systems; repairing and replacing roof sections; repairing building exteriors; repairing major building systems; improving energy efficiency and repairing sidewalks and parking lots.

Why it's needed: The district conducted a long-range facility planning process to study the state of its existing buildings, as well as a community survey to see what projects respondents would support. Survey feedback revealed support for updating and expanding Franklin High School's career and technical education areas and its physical education and athletics facilities, build classrooms and special education areas, renovate science labs and expand 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: November 2016, when voters passed a $43.3 million facilities referendum that built a new Forest Park Middle School. The old Forest Park Middle School building was demolished.

Glendale-River Hills

What: Operational referendum

How much: $9 million total; $4.5 million per year for two years, in 2024-25 and 2025-26

Tax impact: A projected increase of $1.16 per $1,000 of property value for the 2024-25 school year. For a $400,000 home, it's owner would pay an additional $464 in school taxes if the referendum passes. The tax rate is likely to decrease for 2025-26 due to the district's 2019 operational referendum expiring after 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: To fund district operations, including staff salaries and benefits and instructional programming for students

Why it's needed: The district, similar to other school districts, said its state funding has not kept up with inflation.

Last referendum: April 2019, when voters approved an operational referendum that brought an additional $1.58 million per year for five years, $7.9 million total. The funds started in the 2020-21 school year and will end after the 2024-25 school year.

Maple Dale-Indian Hill

What: Recurring operational referendum

How much: $1.75 million annually with no end date.

Tax impact: An additional 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed property on the school tax rate that would begin in the 2025-26 school year. The owner of a $400,000 home would see an increase of $40 annually in school taxes. Maple Dale-Indian Hill's 2023-24 tax rate was $7.27 per $1,000 of property value.

Scope of the referendum: The funds would allow the district to avoid cutting critical programs and services, maintain its facilities and continue delivering a high-quality education to students, according to the district.

Why it's needed: The district said while it can absorb an anticipated $390,108 budget shortfall for the 2024-25 school year, it cannot sustain future deficits. It cited rising costs and fixed state-imposed revenue limits that have not kept pace with inflation.

Last referendum: April 2019. Voters approved a $16.37 million facilities referendum addressing capital maintenance projects, as well as high-priority safety, security and learning space improvements at both Maple Dale and Indian Hill schools. Voters also approved a $9.8 million nonrecurring operational referendum that gave the district $980,000 per year for 10 years, which will end after the 2028-29 school year.

Mequon-Thiensville

What: Operational referendum

How much: $26.4 million total; funds would be provided over four years if approved: $5.5 million for the 2024-25 school year; $6.2 million for the 2025-26 school year; $6.9 million for the 2026-27 school year and $7.8 million for the 2027-28 school year.

Tax impact: 73 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value over four years if the referendum passes. For 2023-24, the district's tax rate was $6.81 per $1,000 of property value. Assuming no other tax rate increases, that number would increase to $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. For a $400,000 home, the owner would pay an additional $948 total in school taxes over four years for the referendum.

Scope of the referendum: If the referendum passes, the district said it would be able to balance its budget without tapping into 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 is facing a projected $6 million deficit for the 2024-25 school year and its state-imposed revenue limits have limited what it can raise through state aid and property taxes. The district also cited challenges with inflation, rising operational costs and unfunded mandates.

Last referendum: April 2020, when district voters approved a $55.7 million facilities referendum that funded additions and renovated spaces to accommodate building capacity and projected enrollment growth, along with districtwide safety and security improvements.

More: The number of Wisconsin school referendums this year is up – way up. Here’s why.

Mukwonago

What: Facilities referendum

How much: $89.1 million

Tax impact: An additional 24 cents per $1,000 of fair market value. The owner of a $400,000 home would pay an additional $96 annually in school taxes. The district's 2023-24 school tax rate was $6.20 per $1,000.

Scope of the project: The funds would support the building of a new sixth- through eighth-grade middle school.

Why it’s needed: The existing middle school was built in 1954 and has major building systems, as well as classroom flooring, lighting, ceilings and casework that need replacement. The building also has an inefficient layout and has small classrooms and narrow and congested hallways.

Last referendum: In April, district voters rejected a $102.3 million facilities referendum that would not only have built a new Park View Middle School, but also would have renovated the district's elementary schools to allow for more space for 4-year-old kindergarten programs, districtwide grade reconfiguration by moving sixth-graders from the elementary schools to the middle school and reconfiguring Big Bend Elementary School's parking lot and dropoff areas.

Oak Creek-Franklin

What: Facilities referendum

How much: $34.3 million

Tax impact: Neutral; if the referendum passes, the district 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 would fund building two new pools at Oak Creek High School: a competition pool and a community pool.

Why it's needed: The current pool is dated and needs significant repairs. It also is not properly sized to be expanded to meet WIAA standards without compromising other essential areas.

Last referendum: 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 or athletic field improvements.

St. Francis

What: Operational referendum

How much: $10.2 million total; $600,000 for the 2024-25 school year and $2.4 million per year from the 2025-26 school year through the 2028-29 school year

Tax impact: The school's tax rate is projected to decrease regardless of whether the referendum passes. If it passes, the school tax rate — which was $10.47 per $1,000 in 2023-24 — is projected to drop 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; back up slightly to $10.25 per $1,000 in 2027-28 and then down to $9.89 per $1,000 in 2028-29.

The district's director of finance, Jackson Parker, previously told the Journal Sentinel the district has been paying off some of its previous referendum debt early and is also projecting an increase in state equalization aid. Because of those two things he said the district is projecting the school tax rate to decrease.

Why it's needed: The district said state funding has not kept up with rising costs, that federal pandemic relief funding is ending and that funding from its most recent operational referendum will expire next year.

Last referendum: April 2021. Voters approved a $30.6 million facilities referendum that paid for renovations and additions at Willow Glen Primary and Deer Creek Intermediate schools, along with districtwide capital maintenance, building improvements, safety, security and accessibility updates. Voters also approved an operational referendum that provided the district with an additional $3.2 million total over four years, $800,000 per year from 2021-22 to 2024-25, to address a projected operating deficit.

Wauwatosa

What: Two questions, one for operational expenses and the other for facilities

How much: $64.4 million total for the operational referendum. Funding would increase by $16.1 million per year for four years starting in 2025-26 and ending in 2028-29. The second question seeks $60 million for facilities improvements.

Tax impact: $2.10 per $1,000 of property value if both questions pass. For a $350,000 home, its owner would pay an additional $735 annually in school taxes. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.68 per $1,000 of property value.

Scope of the operational referendum: Funds would cover district operations, including salaries, benefits, and instructional and co-curricular programming.

Scope of the facilities referendum: Funds would address delayed maintenance projects and projects to meet ADA facilities standards at Eisenhower, Madison, Roosevelt, Jefferson and Washington elementary schools; at the district's Fisher Administration building, which houses Wauwatosa Montessori, as well as at Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West high schools.

Why it's needed: The operational referendum would help the district handle operational needs that it said have been made more difficult to cover because of a lack of state funding. The facilities referendum would help the district address its aging facilities, particularly schools that lack compliance with ADA standards.

Last referendum: November 2018, when voters passed a $124.9 million referendum primarily focusing on new construction and renovations to Lincoln, McKinley, Underwood and Wilson/WSTEM elementary schools.

West Allis-West Milwaukee

What: Two questions, one for facilities, one recurring for operational expenses

How much: $70 million for facilities, $5.8 million per year with no end date for operations

Tax impact: $1.08 per $1,000 of property value if both referendum questions pass. The owner of a $300,000 home would pay $324 more annually in school taxes. The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.69 per $1,000 of property value.

Scope of the facilities referendum: Districtwide facility improvements, including safety, security and accessibility upgrades

Scope of the operational referendum: Funds would support staff raises

Why it's needed: The district said the facilities referendum would address the district's aging buildings, which are, on average, almost 80 years old with a capital need of almost $275 million. The operational referendum is needed, according to the district, to provide funding due to state-imposed revenue limits not keeping up with rising costs.

Last referendum: April 2022, when voters rejected a $149.8 million facilities referendum that would have closed Nathan Hale and West Allis Central high schools and created one new, consolidated high school.

West Bend

What: Facilities referendum

How much: $106.25 million

Tax impact: An estimated $1.02 per $1,000 of fair market property value. For a $300,000 home, the owner would pay an additional $306 annually in school taxes. The district's 2023-24 school tax rate was $5.20 per $1,000 of property value.

Scope of the project: Build a new Jackson Elementary School and tackle other projects at buildings districtwide. It would also fund the closing of Fair Park and Decorah Park elementary schools, Rolfs Education Center and the Education Service Center building.

Why it's needed: A 2023 district 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 and to improve its educational environments, be more efficient with its resources and reduce long-term operating costs.

Last referendum: April 2019, when voters rejected a $47 million facilities referendum that would have built a new Jackson Elementary School and would have funded improvements to West Bend East/West High School.

Whitnall

What: Facilities referendum

How much: $79.1 million

Tax impact: Previously estimated to be an additional 35 cents per $1,000 of property value, the district on Oct. 22 announced that number had been revised to 3 cents per $1,000 after final figures for property values and state aid came in. For a $300,000 home, its owner would pay $9 more in school taxes annually if the referendum were approved. The district's 2023-24 school tax rate was $7.15 per $1,000 of property value.

Scope of the project: If approved, the referendum would fund facility projects at each of the district's schools. For example, at Whitnall High School, renovations would be done in the science wing, kitchen, auditorium, locker rooms, gyms, weight/fitness area, as well as the addition of an eight-lane pool, support spaces, mezzanine seating and event lobby.

Why it's needed: The district said it paid off its 2018 referendum debt 14 years early while also seeing its tax rate continue to decline, making now the time to address facility needs while keeping the school tax rate close to the current rate.

Last referendum: April 2018, when 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.

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee area school referendums on November's ballot