In which we talk about the specifics of the referendum questions we'll see on our ballots in November and the district's plans relating to the proposed funding. With additional complaints about state-level policy that pits housing affordability against school funding and some wonkery about the difference between recurring and non-recurring referenda.

*Ugh, I called Fund 46 "Fund 64" at one point. That's an error.

References:

The referendum questions and tax calculator.

The district's long-range facilities plan.

Wisconsin districts that have created a Fund 46

The administration's 48.4m operating budget plan.

In November 2024, voters in our leafy suburb of Milwaukee will join the majority of Wisconsin school districts in having to approve a sizable local tax levy or else suffer draconian cuts to its public schools.
This series looks at how we got here and what we can do about it, beginning with voting on the referendum.

Hosted by: Derek Gottlieb (derekgottliebphd.com)

In which we cover the fundamentals of the Wauwatosa School District budget situation, of school finance in Wisconsin as a whole, of property tax and referendum mechanisms, and of revenue-limit legislation.

LINKS to cited sources:

General WI Educational Funding

State Aid to WI School Districts (source: Legislature pub)

Referenda-use in Wisconsin (Forward Analytics)

Revenue Limits -> Student Outcomes (Rothstein report)

Referendum Impacts on Educational Outcomes (Am. Econ. Journal)

DPI's revenue-limit calculator (DPI)

Local District Descriptive Stats (from NCES for 22-23)

Wauwatosa

Beloit

Campbellspot

Lomira

Kewaskum

Tosa 2075 Task Force information

June 3rd presentation/discussion with the Board (video)

⁠Final Report⁠