By james art Madison and Eau Claire schools face budget cuts
At least two Wisconsin school districts are waiting on taxpayers to finalize their spending plan.
Madison Metropolitan and Eau Claire Area Schools on Monday approved two budget plans: one that includes their proposed property tax increase and one that does not.
Both schools are asking taxpayers for more money on the November ballot.
Madison Metropolitan Schools is seeking two referendum questions, one that would raise $100 million over four years for pay raises and benefits, and another that would raise $507 million over 23 years for new buildings in the district.
Bob Soldner, MMSD’s assistant superintendent of financial services, said in a statement Monday that he expects Madison parents to support both issues.
“Madison is a community that understands the importance of public education and has demonstrated a commitment to supporting its schools time and time again over the years,” Soldner said. “We hope as many people as possible will head to the polls next week to exercise their constitutional right to vote.”
Metropolitan Schools in Madison last asked voters for money in 2020. Voters then approved two referendum questions, one that raised $317 million to renovate four of the city’s high schools and another that raised $33 million for day-to-day operations .
Eau Claire Schools is asking taxpayers for $72 million over four years for day-to-day operations.
The district said the money will be paid for “one-time purposes to fund operating expenses to ensure stability of educational programs, including elementary reading; behavioral and mental health resources for students; school safety; and to maintain student to staff ratios.’
The last time Eau Claire Schools went to taxpayers for more money was in 2022, when voters approved a referendum for $98 million in building improvements.
Both Eau Claire Schools and Madison Metropolitan Schools say they will make budget cuts if voters do not approve tax hike referenda, though those details were not released Monday night
Nearly half of Wisconsin’s school districts are going to the voters for more money this November.