Dear Whitehall School District Community;
In today’s world, a continuing referendum has become the new reality for ensuring consistent and reliable funding for our schools. Like every aspect of life, inflation has significantly impacted school operations, increasing costs for everything from utilities to classroom supplies. At the same time, the competition for talented, qualified staff is higher than ever, and we must remain competitive to attract and retain exceptional educators for our students.
Over the past two years and since our citizens last renewed our operational referendum, state funding for schools has increased slightly but remains well below the rate of inflation. In fact, it is estimated that schools have lost over $3,000/student to inflation since 2008. This would equate to about $2.2 million annually. This has led to challenges with cash flow, resulting in borrowing and additional interest costs that further strain our budget. Meanwhile, the needs and expectations of our students, families, and community continue to grow, requiring us to do more with fewer resources.
A continuing referendum is essential for sustaining the high-quality and future facing education our students deserve while addressing these challenges head-on. Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to invest in the future of our schools and our community
Sincerely,
Mike Beighley
The Question:
The question will appear on the ballot as follows: “Shall the Whitehall School District, Trempealeau and Jackson Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,250,000 per year for two years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2026-2027 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operating and maintenance expenses?”
The Financial Impact:
If the $1,250,000 continuing referendum were approved by voters, the estimated annual tax increase (over the current tax mill rate) would be $.31/$1,000, representing $62 for every $200,000 of property value. Year 2 would be $.17/1,000 or $34 for every $200,000 of property value.
Estimated Tax Impact for Year 1:
Property Value | Per Year | Per Month | |
|---|---|---|---|
$100,000 | $31.00 | $2.58 | |
$200,000 | $62.00 | $5.17 | |
$300,000 | $93.00 | $7.75 |
Estimated Tax Impact for Year 2:
Property Value | Per Year | Per Month | |
|---|---|---|---|
$100,000 | $17.00 | $1.42 | |
$200,000 | $34.00 | $2.83 | |
$300,000 | $51.00 | $4.25 |
What happens if the referendum is not approved?
The total amount of money the district has to spend will be reduced by up to $950,000 and approximately $1.0 million in reductions will need to be made in order to balance the budget.
This will result, based on the way schools are funded, in a ONE-TIME reduction in local property tax in of $950,000 for 2025 followed by a local property tax increase of about $730,000 for the 2026 school year even though we are spending less money in 2025-26.
It is important for all to understand that if we make cuts, your property taxes will go up by about 73% of the amount cut the following year and that money will essentially be sent to other school districts in the state while we will be doing less for and offering less to our children and communities.**
Revenue Limit Year Over Year
Revenue Limit Year Over Year
Revenue Limit Comparables 2025
Voting Information:
For voting information including your polling location, information on registering to vote, to see what is on the ballot, or information about absentee voting; please visit myvote.wi.gov or scanning the QR Code below.
School Finance Explained!
WASBO Presentation Below!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1.What is the District asking for? The District is seeking approval to continue exceeding the state-set revenue limit by $1,250,000 for the 2025-26 school year and by the same amount for the 2026-27 school year. This request is intended to replace the current $950,000 per year funding, which expires at the end of this school year.
2. Why is this necessary? This is necessary because, over the past 17 years, changes to Wisconsin’s school funding system have provided minimal additional financial support, despite rising costs, increased expectations, and the need for modern programming. These changes have resulted in a structural funding challenge for many school districts across the state. Historical data shows that Wisconsin’s school funding has lagged behind inflation by over $3,000 per student per year, equating to approximately $2.2 million annually. Even with the operational referendum approval of $950,000 for the 2024-25 school year, the District is still managing or reducing expenses by about $1.35 million each year to keep up with actual inflation rates.
3. What does a “YES” vote mean, and what does a “NO” vote mean? A “YES” vote grants the District permission to secure additional taxpayer funding to support operating expenses. In contrast, a “NO” vote would require budget reductions in various areas due to insufficient funding for operating costs. This may impact co-curricular activities and other non-academic programs and opportunities.
4. Is this a local issue or a state-wide issue? This need for referendums is a statewide issue. Since 2015, Wisconsin has seen over 500 referendums to exceed the revenue limit, with approximately 80% of them being approved. Additionally, 58 operational referendum questions are set to be decided on April 1st. This reflects a growing trend across the state, driven by current funding decisions made at the state government level.
5. What is a non-recurring operational referendum? A non-recurring operational referendum is a public voting process where community members directly decide, through a ballot question, whether to allow a school district to exceed the state-set revenue limit. In this case, the Whitehall Area School District is seeking approval for funds to cover operating expenses—not for constructing new facilities. The term “non-recurring” indicates that the request is for additional funding for a specific number of years to support ongoing operational costs and would require approval of a new question to continue receiving dollars in excess of the state revenue limit.
6. Where can I get more information? For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Mike Beighley at Whitehall Memorial Schools at 715-538-4374; or Click here to submit your email