MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee School Board passed a resolution directing school district administrators to gather information and draft a proposal to potentially add a funding referendum to April’s ballot.

The resolution passed on Thursday night. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Milwaukee School Board passed a resolution Thursday evening to potentially add a funding referendum to April’s ballot

  • School board members said funding from the state has not kept up with inflation for nearly 15 years, creating a budget shortfall of roughly $200 million

  • MPS administrators must bring their proposal to the board in January, to appear on the ballot for the spring election in April 2024

  • The school board is urging Milwaukee residents and school families to take an online survey regarding the district’s budget shortfall which can be found, here

A funding referendum would ask Milwaukee voters to raise property taxes in the city to provide more money for the city’s public schools. Referendums approved by voters of a school district allow the school district to raise more tax funding.

School board members said funding from the state has not kept up with inflation for nearly 15 years, creating a budget shortfall of roughly $200 million. T

(Spectrum News 1/Phillip Boudreaux)

The school board said this is forcing Milwaukee Public School leaders to consider cutting staff, transportation options and school programs. Leaders said they are also considering closing buildings.

“The state funding formula is broken and does not sustain the schools we deserve,” said board member Missy Zombor. “This resolution is simple. We cannot stand by and let MPS students be starved of the opportunities they need and deserve. As a board, we have an obligation to the children of Milwaukee to do what it takes to ensure they have the resources they need.”

MPS administrators must bring their proposal to the board in January. Any ballot question would be due to election officials in January, ahead of the spring election in April 2024.

Once that proposal is made, the school board will vote on it.

(Spectrum News 1/Phillip Boudreaux)

Milwaukee voters last approved a referendum for MPS in 2020, which generated $87 million for the district.

The school board said it is urging Milwaukee residents and school families to take an online survey regarding the district’s budget shortfall. 

“We’re backed into this corner and we want the community’s input,” said Marva Herndon, Milwaukee School Board president. “We want your support. Our children are counting on all of us.”

School districts across Wisconsin are increasingly using referendums; 2022 was the highest year of referenda in Wisconsin history and 80% of them passed, according to data shared by MPS. 

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