Madison could be the next school district to hold a referendum

MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison Metropolitan School Board got their first look at the district's proposed preliminary budget for the 2024-25 school year this week. The current proposed plan would cut nearly $2.4 million from the budget and cut the property tax rate by 11 percent. But the Board of Education could still decide to put a referendum on the ballot this fall to make up the funding gap.

In 2020, Madison voters approved a $350 million across two referendums in the district.

"The referendum funding was absolutely crucial, and we owe our community," said MMSD Board of Education member Nicki Vander Muelen. "We built six schools. We built one, remodeled four and modified one. In four years we managed to make significant investments in our students and our scholars, and what they need and the facilities they deserve."

But with pandemic-era funding and that referendum money drying up, the district is faced with a choice: cut the budget or ask taxpayers for more.

"If we do go and ask our community, we do it not because we want to take advantage, we do it because our hands are tied, and we're asking as a member of the community to help support us so we can support their children in the education and manner that they so deserve," Vander Muelen said.

However, she also says she hopes the burden won't continue to fall on taxpayer referendums alone.

"I think that's my hardest part is that we have the funds in the state government is sitting on a $4 billion surplus and to see us fight to struggle to get our kids what they deserve," Vander Muelen said. "Our hands at the public school level are tied, there's a $4 billion surplus, the money is there. Your legislators are choosing not to release that money."

The Board has to pass a preliminary budget by July 1st. They can then decide whether or not to put a referendum on the ballot this November.

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