Voters to decide the fate of the Kenosha Unified School District

 

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Kenosha County voters are facing the question of whether to vote yes or no for KUSD's proposed referendum asking for $23 million a year, for the next five years.

KUSD Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss says the money will pay for the district's operational expenses deficit, which is around $19 million. The rest will be spent on safety improvements.

"We need to have safety measures like controlled entrances in place," said Dr. Weiss. "If the referendum does pass, we've begun design work and will be able to complete that work at all seven schools, roughly in about a year."

If the referendum doesn’t pass, Dr. Weiss says large cuts will need to be made.

"We'd have to reduce more staff, which would increase class sizes," said Dr. Weiss. "We'd have to delay some of the improvements I mentioned earlier about safety. We'd also have to reduce some of our offerings for students."

Last year, the district was able to address a budget problem half the size of this year's problem, but at a steep cost.

"For a frame of reference, last year we closed seven schools and eliminated close to 200 full-time positions," said Dr. Weiss. "That saved about $10 million a year. What we are facing 2025-26, is $19 million, so this would require more additional cuts."

If passed, taxpayers will owe $1.25 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. So, a home valued at $250,000 could expect to pay around $313 per year.

The polls open at 7 a.m. and close 8 p.m. on Feb. 18.

Absentee ballots are already piling in with good turnout. Kenosha City Clerk Treasurer Michelle Nelson says in-person absentee voting for the spring primary election has seen an increase in comparison to the last two primaries in the city of Kenosha.