See suburban Milwaukee area school referendum results

While most suburban Milwaukee school district referendums passed in the April 2 election, two failed, including a $102.3 million facilities referendum in the Mukwonago Area School District.

One of two questions in the Lake Country School District failed. While Lake Country voters passed a referendum question approving $9.5 million for facilities improvements, voters rejected a question that would have provided $7.2 million for operating expenses split into increases over seven years.

Voters approved referendums in the Grafton, Greendale, Hamilton, North Lake, Pewaukee and South Milwaukee school districts.

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Here's the results of each referendum and what they will fund.

Greendale School District approves $12.5 million operational referendum

• Results: 2,507 yes, 1,725 no

• How much and for what: $12.5 million total operational referendum; $2.5 million per year for five years starting in the 2024-25 school year and ending in the 2028-29 school year

• Tax impact: Because the referendum passed, the school tax rate will increase 5 cents from $8.29 per $1,000 of property value in 2023-24 to $8.34 per $1,000. That means increase of $12.50 annually in additional school taxes for the owner of a $250,000 house.

• Why it's needed: The district says its state-imposed revenue limits have not kept pace with inflation and says by approving the funds, it will be able to maintain the quality of its educational programming.

• Last referendum: In November 2018, voters passed a $33.8 million facilities referendum to address projects at all five of the district's schools.

South Milwaukee approves $10 million operational referendum

Results: 2,477 yes, 1,828 no

What and how much: $10 million total operational referendum, which will be spread out by $2 million in each of the next five years, from the 2024-25 school year to the 2028-29 school year.

Tax impact: The district's 2023-24 school tax rate is $7.95 per $1,000 of property value. Because it's been approved, the referendum will add an additional 4 cents per $1,000 of property value and the the school tax rate will increase up to $7.99 per $1,000 for the 2024-25 school year. For a $200,000 home, its owner will pay $8 more annually in school taxes under the 2024-25 school tax rate compared to the 2023-24 school tax rate.

Scope of the referendum/why it's needed: The district said the majority of funds will go toward staff retention and recurring costs to keep the district's workforce compensation competitive with neighboring districts to allow for better teacher/staff continuity and retention. It will also cover security upgrades, including additional cameras, traffic mitigation along 15th Avenue and doors requiring electronic key-fob access; career exploration such as enhancing career exploration opportunities at the elementary level, and technology upgrades.

Last referendum: Voters in November 2018 approved $3.8 million in recurring funds distributed over six years to exceed the state revenue cap.

Grafton School District passes facilities referendum for projects at John Long Middle School

Results: 2,903 yes, 1,938 no

How much and what: $11.14 million facilities referendum

Tax impact: The district expects the tax impact to be flat, saying its current tax rate of $7.42 per $1,000 of property value would remain the same if the referendum passes.

Scope of the project: The projects will fund the addition of eight classrooms for fifth grade at John Long Middle School, the remodeling and expansion of the school's cafeteria to accommodate more students and other remodeling to repurpose areas of the building for a science classroom and special education learning spaces, according to information on the district's website.

Why it's needed: The district said the referendum is needed to continue handling increased enrollment into the district. It says by moving fifth grade to John Long Middle School, it opens up three classrooms at all of the elementary schools. The district says that move would accommodate each school's current student population, as well as spaces for "bubble" classes, or "grade levels with more students than can be accommodated in the typical three sections at each building." The district's board determined last October that the addition to the school and expanding it to include grades five through eight "was the most feasible way" to accommodate the district's growing elementary enrollment.

Last referendum: Voters approved $39.93 million in April 2017 that funded renovation and expansion projects at Grafton High School and Woodview and Kennedy Elementary Schools and the demolishing of Grafton Elementary School. The referendum also funded the construction of a new district maintenance building, renovations to the district offices as well as other districtwide sitework and infrastructure upgrades.

Pewaukee School District facilities referendum passes

Results: 2,391 yes, 2,073 no

What and how much: A $28.5 million facilities referendum

Tax impact: The district's 2023-24 school tax rate is $6.85 per $1,000 of property value. Because it's been approved, the referendum will increase that rate by an additional 28 cents per $1,000 of equalized value. The owner of a $300,000 home would pay an additional $84 annually in school taxes.

Scope of the project: The referendum will fund additions and renovations to Pewaukee High School's career technical education and art spaces. Due to those projects, the existing physical education and fitness spaces will be relocated. The referendum will also fund roof and flooring replacements at Horizon Elementary School; roof replacement at Pewaukee Lake Elementary School; solar panel installation, air handling unit replacement and expanded parking at Pewaukee High School and solar panel installation at Asa Clark Middle School.

Why it's needed: Community survey results from last fall indicated support for renovations to Pewaukee High School's career and technical education and art spaces, as well as district maintenance and solar energy projects. The survey was administered as part of the district's long-range facility planning process.

Last referendum: In November 2018, voters approved a $39.7 million facilities referendum, which covered the conversion of Horizon Elementary School into a third through fifth grade school. That was done by moving third graders from Pewaukee Lake Elementary School to Horizon Elementary School. The referendum also covered the conversion of Asa Clark Middle School into a sixth through eighth grade middle school. That was accomplished by moving sixth graders from Horizon Elementary School to Asa Clark Middle School. The funds also helped pay for a new gym at Horizon Elementary School, and additions and renovations to Pewaukee High School. The work at Pewaukee High School included the addition of a new library and classroom spaces, renovations to the student services and administrative office and enhancements to the school's secure entryway. The funds also covered campus infrastructure improvements.

Hamilton approves referendums for both operational expenses and facilities improvements

Results: 4,804 yes, 4,307 no for Question 1; 5,010 yes, 4,080 no for Question 2

How much and for what: A two-question referendum: Question 1 is for $7.6 million for recurring operational expenses, and the second question is for $25 million for facilities improvements.

Tax impact: Since both questions passed, there will be an increase of 49 cents per $1,000 of property value, increasing the school tax rate from $6.91 per $1,000 to $7.40 per $1,000. For a $400,000 home, the property owner would pay $196 annually in additional school taxes if both questions pass.

Scope of the referendum questions: The operational referendum question will help maintain class sizes, staffing levels and academic course offerings and programs; pay for increasing operational costs, replace aging building systems districtwide and install air conditioning at Willow Springs Learning Center. The facilities referendum question will provide an addition to expand the cafeteria and renovations to applied engineering and technology, science and art classrooms at Hamilton High School, additions to Lannon Elementary School, expansion of Templeton Middle School's cafeteria and reconfigure bus and parent dropoff/pickup areas at Marcy, Maple Avenue and Lannon Elementary Schools.

Why it's needed: The district said the funding is needed to address increased expenses, increased student enrollment, as well as operational and infrastructure needs.

Last referendum: Voters approved two questions in February 2018 totaling $58.9 million. The first question approved $57.4 million to build a new intermediate school, add 15 classrooms to and renovate the applied engineering technology areas at Hamilton High School. The second question approved $1.5 million in recurring funds that covered the operational costs of the new intermediate school.

Lake Country voters split on school referendums, voting down operational expenses but approving money for facilities improvements

Results: 695 no, 594 yes on Question 1; 691 yes, 589 no on Question 2

What and how much: Two-question referendum: one question for operational expenses; the other for facilities improvements. The first question, which failed, asked for $7.2 million in recurring operational expenses split into increases over seven years. The second question, which passed, will fund $9.5 million in facilities improvements.

Tax impact: School taxes would have increased by $1.16 per $1,000 of property value if both questions had passed. Since voters split on the two questions, the tax impact of just the facilities improvement referendum will be 46 cents per $1,000 of property value over the district's 2023-24 school tax rate of $2.56 per $1,000.

Scope of the two questions: The operational referendum question, which failed, would have funded annual operating expenses. The facilities referendum question, which passed, will fund improvements such as safety and security upgrades, building improvements such as roof and drainage repairs, technology system upgrades as well as learning environment improvements such as replacing the 1993 chiller to improve indoor air quality, reduce carbon dioxide levels "and create an enhanced learning environment."

Why its needed: The district said the operational referendum would help the district with current and future budget needs and maintain its staff and programming. The district says its facilities' referendum will modernize the building and reduce costs such as electrical and heating, with the savings from the reduced costs to be put back into the budget.

Mukwonago Schools facilities referendum fails

Results: 5,406 no, 4,595 yes

What and how much: A $102.3 million facilities referendum

Tax impact: The district's 2023-24 school tax rate is $6.20 per $1,000. If approved, the tax rate would have been an additional 69 cents per $1,000 of property value, increasing that rate to about $6.89 per $1,000 of property value. A homeowner with a $300,000 property would have paid $207 more annually in school taxes.

Scope of the project: The project would have built a new sixth- through eighth-grade middle school and demolished the current building, created space for 4-year-old kindergarten programs by renovating the district's elementary schools, reconfigured grades districtwide by moving sixth-graders from the elementary schools to the middle school and reconfigured parking lot and dropoff areas at Big Bend Elementary School.

Why it’s needed: Built in 1954, the district's existing middle school building was identified as having the most pressing needs, with several systems needing replacement, roof sections needing replacement and more. The district also said that by moving sixth-graders from the elementary schools to the middle school, it would free up space at each elementary school to accommodate 4K programs.

Last referendum: In April 2016, voters approved two questions: a $49.5 million facilities referendum funding renovations, remodeling and improvements at Mukwonago High School, as well as $7 million to fund operational and maintenance expenses at the same school.

North Lake School District narrowly approves operational referendum

Results: 576 yes, 535 no

What and how much: A $3.4 million total operational referendum, which would provide $850,000 per year for the next four years

Tax impact: Taxes are expected to increase by decreasing amounts over the next four years: an additional $1.06 per $1,000 of assessed property value in the first year, $1 per $1,000 in the second year, 93 cents per $1,000 in the third year and 88 cents per $1,000 in the fourth year. For a $400,000 home, the owner would see a school tax increase of about $424 in the first year, $400 in the second year, $372 in the third year and $352 in the fourth year. The district's 2023-24 tax rate is $3.77 per $1,000 of property value.

Additional information: The district said it has paid off debt from a previously approved $2.26 million referendum in November 2014.

Scope of the referendum: The district said the funds will cover day-to-day operating costs in the district, address increased costs for items such as transportation, utilities and special education along with the district's reduction in state aid. The district said the funds would also allow it to avoid making significant staffing and student programming cuts over the next few years.

Why it's needed: According to the district, the lack of state funding has it ranking in the bottom 10% of all Wisconsin school districts; the current level of funding is not enough to adequately pay for educational programming. The district also noted that inflation has caused transportation and utilities' costs to rise, as well as other expenses out of the district's control. In addition, the district wants to avoid making significant cuts to staffing and student programming.

Last referendum: In April 2023, district voters rejected a proposed $3.6 million over three years operational referendum.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: See suburban Milwaukee area school referendum results