The operational referendum would gradually increase the district’s authority to exceed state revenue limits, reaching $10.5 million a year in 2030–31 and beyond. It would continue $2.1 million in existing operational funding while raising the annual amount to $4.2 million in 2027–28, $6.3 million in 2028–29 and $8.4 million in 2029–30.

Superintendent Monica Kelsey-Brown said the district wants to keep salaries competitive with other Dane County districts and account for inflation. The district reports retaining about 95% of its teachers.

“Speaking for Waunakee, and I would say generally speaking, all school districts across the state, we do not want to go to our taxpayers if we don’t have to in order to attract and retain staff,” Kelsey-Brown said.

Unlike the district’s previous temporary operational referendum, the proposed authority would not expire after a set number of years. Kelsey-Brown said the school board has adopted a policy not to levy additional operational dollars if future state funding changes adequately account for inflation.

David Boetcher, a Dane County Board supervisor and former Waunakee School Board member, said temporary funding measures can lead districts to return to voters for ongoing expenses. He said Wisconsin school districts face pressure because state revenue limits have not kept pace with inflation.

The second question would authorize up to $97.5 million in borrowing for renovations and additions, mostly at Waunakee Community High School. The district says the work would complete the final phase of a facilities plan begun in 2010. The proposed costs include $88.7 million for high school renovations and additions, $4.4 million for South Campus renovations and $4.4 million for outdoor athletic facilities.

District officials say some high school career programs lack space and equipment. More than 50 students must travel off-site for Certified Nursing Assistant lab training, costing the district about $800 per student, because the school does not have a dedicated lab classroom. Kelsey-Brown said some students without access to a vehicle face added barriers getting to the training.

Boetcher said the culinary arts program also relies on equipment designed for home use rather than commercial kitchens. District figures show an average of 22 students a year over the past two years could not enroll in requested culinary courses. Proposed upgrades also include science labs, agricultural education spaces and other career and technical education classrooms.

The athletic facilities portion is about 4.5% of the capital proposal. Boetcher said public discussion has focused on athletics, including the current need for athletes to walk through parts of the high school to reach locker rooms and concerns about nearby shelter during severe weather.

For a home with a fair market value of $500,000, the district estimates the operational measure would add $85 annually in property taxes and the capital measure $125. If both pass, the estimated combined increase would be $210 a year, or about $17.50 a month. Those are district projections based on current assumptions; actual bills can also change with property values, state aid, existing debt and other levy decisions. The district says refinancing debt in 2025 reduced its tax levy by about $2.39 million.

The measures are independent, so voters may approve either, both or neither. If the operating measure fails, district administrators plan to meet with the school board in December to consider next steps; potential staffing or program cuts have not been finalized. The district could also consider another operational referendum in April 2027. If the capital measure fails, the proposed construction and renovation work would not proceed under the current borrowing plan.