Local
Middleton-Cross Plains asks voters to renew school operating funds for four years
A Nov. 3 referendum would authorize rising annual operating funds, starting at $24.9 million, to support programs and day-to-day costs. District leaders say rejection would require roughly $24.9 million in cuts beginning in 2027–28; the district projects no referendum-related tax increase in the first year.
Voters in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District will decide Nov. 3 whether to renew operating funds that district leaders say are needed to sustain school programs, staffing and other routine expenses.
The four-year, non-recurring referendum would replace funding approved in 2022 that expires after the 2026–27 school year. It would authorize $24.9 million in 2027–28, then increase the annual amount to $27.9 million in 2028–29, $31.1 million in 2029–30 and $34.6 million in 2030–31. The amounts are above state revenue limits.
The district says Wisconsin’s school funding system has not kept pace with inflation. Its estimate puts the shortfall at about $3,600 per student over the past 16 years, or $25.4 million based on district enrollment in 2025–26.
School Board President Bob Hesselbein said rising costs and state requirements have left districts relying on local voters for support. The proposal would pay for existing educational programs, extracurricular activities, employee compensation and other operating costs—not new construction.
If the referendum fails, district officials estimate they would need to cut about $24.9 million beginning in 2027–28, roughly 20% of the operating budget. The district has not identified which positions or programs would be affected. Even if voters approve the request, officials anticipate about $5 million in budget reductions over four years.
Kris Tawil, a parent of two district students and co-chair of the independent Vote Yes campaign, said possible consequences could include larger classes and fewer extracurricular activities. Hesselbein said the board reduced its initial funding request in response to financial pressures on families and would prioritize trimming program enhancements over core educational offerings.
For a home with a fair market value of $500,000, district projections show no additional referendum-related tax increase in 2027–28. The projected annual increase over the previous year is $105 in 2028–29, $200 in 2029–30 and $295 in 2030–31. By the fourth year, the annual amount would be an estimated $600 higher than in the first year.
Those figures cover the referendum alone and could change with property valuations or other tax factors. A separate state policy allows districts to raise revenue limits by $325 per student annually, but that authority does not necessarily include additional state aid, which can leave more of the cost to local taxpayers.
The district is scheduled to hold a referendum information session from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Middleton High School Performing Arts Center. Early voting is underway, and the referendum question will appear on the back of the ballot Nov. 3.