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Madison Metropolitan School District

10 Things to Know About the 2024 Referenda

10 Things to Know About the 2024 Referenda

This fall, MMSD joins 121 Wisconsin school districts that have referendums on the ballot. Here are 10 things you need to know.

  1. MMSD is asking taxpayers to approve a $100 million operations referendum to help build sustainable revenues. This includes funding staffing to attract and retain high-quality teachers and employees, supporting educational programming like early learning/4K, providing well-rounded opportunities for students and enhancing our culture and climate. Staff salaries and benefits account for about 80% of the district's annual budget. 
     
  2. Gaps due to inflation: Over the last decade, state funding has failed to keep pace with inflation, resulting in significant funding gaps for school districts across Wisconsin. For MMSD, that gap was $21 million dollars last year alone in per pupil funding.
     
  3. Gaps due to special education funding: State funding covers only 31% of special education costs, leaving MMSD to cover the remaining costs – an estimated $66 million in 2023-24 alone. MMSD is legally required to provide these services, meaning the district must take funds from its "general" fund to make up this difference. Statewide, this is a $1.5 billion funding gap.
     
  4. Gaps due to early learning funding: While MMSD offers full-day four-year-old kindergarten, only 50% of the funding is received from the state. This means the district must cover the remaining 50% of expenses. The MMSD Board of Education has continued to invest in early learning to ensure our youngest learners receive the best start possible.
     
  5. Record increases to private and independent charter schools by the state government add to financial challenges to public schools. MMSD is required by state law to allocate nearly $11 million of public tax dollars to support private and independent charter schools.
     
  6. MMSD is also asking for approval of a $507 million facilities referendum to address aging schools that need urgent, critical updates to provide modernized, flexible spaces that contribute to student learning. The facilities referendum will renovate or rebuild 10 school buildings, allowing for upgrades in heating, cooling, plumbing, accessibility and safety.
     
  7. Urgent facilities needs: More than half of MMSD’s 52 schools are over 60 years old and need urgent, critical updates. Forty schools received grades of C or D on the 2023 Facilities Condition Report. The facilities referendum focuses on five middle schools, one alternative high school and four elementary schools.
     
  8. Why these schools: The schools are geographically located throughout Madison. Priority was given to buildings with critical HVAC and plumbing needs. Some of the mechanical systems have reached their “life expectancy.”
     
  9. Regular budget dollars for facilities aren't enough: MMSD's annual operating budget for maintenance is about $5 million. It covers maintenance to keep buildings clean, safe and in the best condition possible. However, this budget is not enough to cover major renovations or upgrades.
     
  10. Tax impact: The estimated financial impact of the cumulative $100 million operations referendum is an incremental increase of $26* per month for the first year on the average Madison home valued at $457,300. This base building revenue begins with $30 million in year one, $30 million in year two, $20 million in year three and $20 million in year four. At the end of four years in 2027-28, this fully annualized estimate is anticipated to be $87 per month. For the facilities referendum, it's 27* per month for 23 years for the average Madison home valued at $457,300. The first tax impact would occur in the fall of 2025 when the first project would begin. *Estimated tax assumptions are based on current home values. Calculate your tax impact at our website.