Whitnall School District voters to decide on $79.1 million referendum in November

Like the Arrowhead and Franklin school districts, the Whitnall School District will also put a referendum to its voters this November.

The Whitnall School Board voted unanimously July 8 to place a $79.1 million facilities referendum on the November ballot "to address the district's crucial infrastructure and facility needs," according to a Whitnall School District news release.

The referendum would fund facility projects at each school.

Here's what to know:

Whitnall High School

• Renovation of the school's science wing, kitchen, auditorium, locker rooms, gyms, weight/fitness area: $24.4 million

• Addition of an eight-lane pool, support spaces, mezzanine seating, event lobby: $20.5 million

• Capital improvement plan items such as HVAC updates, replacing the generator, and renovating four sets of toilet rooms: $8.3 million

• Sitework: $600,000

Whitnall Middle School

• Capital improvement plan items such as replacing certain roof sections, renovating locker room toilet rooms to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, replacing the east gym bleachers and tuckpointing as needed: $1.7 million

Edgerton Elementary School

• Addition of a gym and classrooms: $9.7 million

• Capital improvement plan items such as replacing boilers, chiller, furnace and ventilators, generator and windows: $4.2 million

• Renovation of 4K classrooms, office expansion, cafeteria/kitchen and restrooms: $3.2 million

• Sitework and courtyard work: $1.4 million

Hales Corners Elementary

• Capital improvement plan items including roof section replacement, window replacement, exterior wall section repairs and the addition of air conditioning in the school's 1954 and 1957 sections and renovation of two sets of second-floor toilet rooms: $5.1 million

When would the work be done?

The district said that, based on a conservative timeline from Bray Architects, it would like to start construction in early 2026 and finish by the end of summer 2027, according to an email from Whitnall School District communication coordinator Brenda Litza.

What is the estimated tax impact of the referendum?

If the referendum passes, the estimated tax impact will be an additional 35 cents per $1,000 of property value. A homeowner with a $300,000 property would pay an additional $105 in school taxes annually. The district's 2023-24 school tax rate was $7.15 per $1,000 of property value.

Why is the district pursuing a referendum?

The district paid off its 2018 referendum debt 14 years ahead of schedule, saving taxpayers $2.5 million in interest costs. Over that same time period, the district's tax rate has continued to decline, according to Litza's email.

"This financial position makes the timing right to consider undertaking significant projects to address our facilities needs, while keeping the mill rate close to our current mill rate. If we do not address the needs now, we will spend millions more in future years, due to inflation," Litza said in her email.

A community survey conducted in spring revealed that 60.8% of respondents said they would support the referendum.

When was the district's last referendum?

The district's last referendum was in April 2018, when voters approved a $16.16 million facilities referendum. Those funds helped with projects including 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: Whitnall School District voters to decide on $79.1 million referendum