Referendum Planning

While the Kenosha Unified School District is a big point of pride in our community, our district has financial needs caused by decreased state funding and rising inflationary costs in recent years. District leaders and the Board of Education have been engaged in a process to examine these needs and find a potential solution for the community’s consideration.

We are seeking your input! The Board of Education is asking all residents to participate in a referendum survey to evaluate the district’s needs, consider preliminary solutions, and contribute feedback to guide our next steps.

calendar icon Referendum survey open through October 10, 2024

click icon Estimated time to complete: 10-15 minutes

question mark icon Questions? Contact Tanya Ruder at truder@kusd.edu or 262-359-7612.

paper and pencil icon Need a paper copy? Call the District Office at 262-359-6300.

 

Take Our Referendum Survey

With steadily declining enrollment, mainly due to falling birth rates, Kenosha Unified implemented a rigorous process to achieve a balanced budget for the 2024-25 school year. Unfortunately, it was only temporary because the state funding formula has yet to keep pace with the inflation rate. As a result, Kenosha Unified will face an estimated $19 million deficit for the 2025-26 school year despite the $10 million savings captured from the school and Educational Support Center rightsizing adjustments made, including school closings and staff reductions.

The Board of Education is considering a potential operational referendum in 2025 to address the district’s ongoing funding needs. Operational referenda allow school districts to levy taxes over the state-imposed revenue caps to fund operations. In June, a newly formed Referendum Committee compiled a list of baseline, academic, and safety needs for consideration.

The committee identified approximately a dozen items beyond baseline needs, including expanding course offerings, providing equitable prep time, increasing ESPs, updating security cameras, increasing interventionists, and more. These enhancements align with the District Improvement Plan and would help the district to meet its three main goals:

  • Student Achievement
  • Fiscal Responsibility
  • Effective and Engaged Workforce

To better understand the complexities of school funding, check out this video created by the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officers:

An arrow pointing up, showing the rise of inflation among a large dollar sign.

The State Revenue Limit has not kept pace with the rate of inflation since Act 10 was enacted in 2011. If it had, KUSD would have $31 million more in its base operational budget.

An arrow pointing downward depicting the drop in birthrate among a baby carraige.

Student enrollment has declined from 22,682 in the 2011-12 school year, to 18,522 in the 2024-25 school year.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Student enrollment has declined from 22,682 in the 2011-12 school year, to 18,522 in the 2024-25 school year.
  • The State Revenue Limit that has not kept pace with the rate of inflation since Act 10 was enacted in 2011. If it had, KUSD would have $31 million more in its base operational budget.

Since the 2021-22 fiscal year, KUSD has:

  • Reduced staffing to align with declining enrollment
  • Reduced support staff
  • Closed 7 schools and merged two others
  • Eliminated the employer-paid HSA benefit
  • Modified the employee health benefit plan
  • Modified the prescription drug plan
  • Reduced discretionary spending
  • Reduced the major maintenance budget
  • Reduced the curriculum adoption budget
  • Reduced the technology refresh budget
  • Provided wage increases below CPI
  • Shifted costs temporarily to ESSER when possible

The Board of Education has not taken action on ballot language or an election date. The district is currently in the planning phase.

The last referendum passed was the athletics facilities referendum of 2015, which was a capital campaign. This referendum supported the constructing and improving of outdoor facilities at Bradford, Indian Trail High School and Academy, and Tremper.

Bonds = Building: In a capital referendum, funds are borrowed through bonds and paid back with interest. This is most often used for building projects.

Levy = Learning: In an operating referendum, the amount is levied each year from the taxpayers to be used for operating costs of the district.

In 2024 alone, over 45% of Wisconsin’s 421 school districts have or will ask their communities for support through operational and capital referendums. 

Presentations

Presentations have been made at the July and August School Board meetings with information about the referendum process. The presentation slides are available below.