Kenosha schools will ask taxpayers for a $115M referendum on February ballot
KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Kenosha Unified Board of Education voted to place an operational referendum question on the ballot for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.
If it gets approved by voters, the referendum would enable the district to increase its revenue limit by $23 million per year through the 2029-30 school year.
Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss says the district has been left with no other choice as they aim to continue to support the educational endeavors of students.
“This really is our best way forward in making sure we can provide our students the highest quality education they can," Weiss said.
If the operational referendum is approved, it would have an estimated initial property tax impact of $1.25 per year on every $1,000 of equalized property value. For example, the owner of a home worth $250,000 would see a property tax increase of $313 per year.
Weiss said the money would go toward operational and safety needs. In terms of safety, those conversations have been elevated at the district after a recent threat at Roosevelt Elementary. The district wants to add controlled entrances and other safety improvements.
The lack of funding also comes from declining school enrollment at the district, according to Weiss. Student enrollment has declined from 22,682 in the 2011-12 school year, to 18,522 in the 2024-25 school year.
“The way schools are funded are based on pupil count as well as revenue limit authority," Weiss said. “This really is where we are at right now.”
Weiss said KUSD is facing the same financial challenges as most other school districts across Wisconsin, due to what he credits mainly to an outdated and inequitable state funding formula and a lack of state support to public schools. He added if state funding kept pace with inflation in recent years, KUSD would have about $31 million in its budget and would not need to seek a referendum.
“I hope the state comes through for us, but I don’t know if we can count on the state to do that," Weiss said. “There’s only so many ways we can make our budget work.”
Dr. Jill Underly, the state superintendent with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, said just about 50% of school districts went to referendum this past year.
As parents raise concern about what the extra ask could mean for their personal finances, Underly blames the state Legislature.
“They really need to look at their legislators and ask them why they’re not supporting public schools," Underly said.
KUSD officials say they will hold four listening sessions before voters are asked to fill out the ballot question. More information is available here.