By james art Supporters of three referendums from the city of Madison and the Madison School District have spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars combined to advocate for a yes vote, according to campaign finance records.
Madison city officials are asking residents to approve $22 million in additional property tax revenue to avoid what they say would be sharp cuts to services. The school district is pushing for $100 million in additional taxes to support its operations, as well as a separate referendum for $507 million to renovate or rebuild 10 schools.
Most of the campaign spending went to one group’s efforts to promote the two school proposals, according to public records filed with the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Strong Schools, Strong Community, which is backed by a division of the Madison Public Schools Foundation, is the main group pushing for a yes vote.
The organization has spent nearly $223,000 since the start of the year, according to a campaign finance report filed last week. Most of this spending occurred between late September and mid-October.
The group’s top donors include the North Carolina-based political action committee Strategic Victory Fund, which donated $100,000. The political arm of Madison Teachers Inc., the union representing teachers in the district, has also donated $80,000 since January.
Much of the money was used for consulting services from the Madison firm Spector Roh Strategies, as well as for marketing and phone banking in support of the referendum.
The group launched a website and social media accounts advocating for the referendum, as well as digital and radio ads.
Under state law, groups advocating for or against a referendum must report their campaign finance activities if they spend or receive more than $10,000. No group opposing either referendum has reached that $10,000 threshold, though some have tried to organize efforts to urge residents to vote no.
Voting issues also generated substantial debate. If all three referendums pass, property taxes for the average homeowner could increase by about $1,580 by 2028.
Campaign finance reports do not include public funds spent by the city and school district to inform voters about the referendums, including postcards and letters recently sent to Madison residents.
Spending by a private sector group to push the city referendum is more subdued.
Yes for Madison, the group pushing for approval of the $22 million question has spent $2,200 so far this year. Almost all of this was spent on consulting costs.
Of the $20,665 raised by Yes for Madison, $3,150 came from Madison City Council members or city employees, including $1,025 donated by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. The two unions representing city workers also donated $7,500.
In Wisconsin, nearly half of school districts are asking voters to approve referendums in the Nov. 5 election. Twelve municipalities, including four in Dane County, are seeking an opportunity to increase property tax revenue, according to data provided by the Wisconsin League of Municipalities.