Voters overwhelmingly say no to school referendums in Merrill, Athens and Stratford
As school districts across the state experience budget deficits due to declining revenue and increasing costs for operations and daily expenses, voters in Merrill, Athens and Stratford were asked to approve referendums to support operational and capital costs.
Those residents overwhelmingly said no at the polls Tuesday, voting down operational referendums for Merrill Public Schools and the Stratford School District, and an operational referendum and a capital referendum for the School District of Athens.
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Merrill Area Public Schools
Following the failure of a referendum in April asking voters to approve a non-recurring four-year referendum to support teaching and learning for Merrill Area Public Schools, the district made significant budget reductions for the 2022-23 school year that eliminated staff positions, increased class sizes, eliminated courses and programs, and reduced budgets in the career and technical education areas. Textbook and classroom resource purchases also were put on hold and a number of building maintenance projects were pushed backed, the district said on its website.
After receiving feedback from the community, the district again brought the referendum back to voters Tuesday hoping to reverse some of the budget cuts it had made for the school year as well as to maintain class sizes at an acceptable level, address maintenance projects that had been deferred, and to provide funding for increased costs of fuel, diesel and natural gas.
► Shall the Merrill Area Common Public School District, Lincoln and Langlade Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $2,500,000 per year beginning with the 2023-2024 school year and ending with the 2026-2027 school year, for non-recurring purposes to fund District operational and maintenance expenses?
No: 4,479 (52.2%)
Yes: 4,095 (47.8%)
Stratford School District
Although the Stratford School District says it has increased class sizes, reduced staff, implemented budget reductions, reduced bus routes, used one-time COVID relief funds, deferred building and other maintenance projects and limited teacher raises, it still is facing a budget shortfall that it says required it to ask voters for additional funds through an operational referendum.
The funds would have helped pay for electric bills, heat and cool buildings, maintain staffing, transport students, fund sports and extracurricular activities and other related expenses, the district said on its website.
With the failure of the referendum, the district expects to have a budget deficit of about $270,000 for the 2023-24 school year and a $1.36 million shortfall by the 2025-26 school year. The district said it would be forced to make cuts and use remaining federal COVID funds to balance the 2022-23 budget, which would create an even bigger funding shortfall for the 2023-24 school year and beyond.
► Shall the School District of Stratford, Marathon County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $190,000 for the 2022-2023 school year, by $480,000 for the 2023-2024 school year, by $875,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, and by $1,390,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses?
No: 1,307 (54.3%)
Yes: 1,099 (45.7%)
School District of Athens
The School District of Athens took two questions to voters Tuesday. One referendum asked for support for day-to-day operations of the schools and the other addressed long-term deferred maintenance items.
The operational referendum funds would have been used to retain sufficient teaching and support staff, maintain student support services, sustain opportunities in areas such as fine arts, athletics and extracurricular programs and provide necessary technology tools, according to the district's website.
The capital referendum funds would have been used to replace the rooftop units providing heating, cooling and ventilation equipment; expand and enhance the career and technical education classroom spaces; build a high school track and retaining wall; install a new playground at Athens Elementary School; and purchase a generator and replace the roof at Maple Grove Charter School.
In a letter to voters ahead of the election, Superintendent Andrea Sheridan said if the referendums were not successful and the district is unable to balance its budget, the Board of Education will be forced to make about $900,000 in staff and program reductions.
► Question 1 (Operational Referendum): Shall the School District of Athens, Marathon and Taylor Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $900,000 for the 2022-2023 school year; and by an additional $770,000 (for a total of $1,670,000) for the 2023-2024 school year and thereafter, for recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses?
No: 1,113 (57.7%)
Yes: 816 (42.3%)
► Question 2: (Capital Referendum): Shall the School District of Athens, Marathon and Taylor Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,525,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: construction of an addition and remodeling for career and technical education at the Middle/High School; building systems, infrastructure, athletic and site improvements at district facilities; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?
No: 1,126 (58.7%)
Yes: 792 (41.3%)
Wausau Daily Herald editor Jamie Rokus can be reached at jrokus@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Voters say no to school referendums in Merrill, Athens and Stratford
