FOND DU LAC – Change is in order across Fond du Lac County.
Tuesday’s election saw four newcomers claim seats alongside the reelection of four incumbents across Fond du Lac City Council, Fond du Lac School District Board and Fond du Lac County Board.
The Fond du Lac School District referendum asking to exceed the revenue limit set by state statute by $7.5 million per year for four years beginning in 2026-27 failed 6,599-6,396.
Had the school referendum passed, funding would have supported operations and maintenance, security upgrades, staff compensation and educational programming.
Here are takeaways from Tuesday’s election in Fond du Lac County.
Fond du Lac School District’s failed referendum means more budget cuts are likely
The Fond du Lac School District asked voters to authorize exceeding the revenue limit by $7.5 million per year for four years. That request was down from the $10 million the district asked for in the failed April 2025 referendum, lowered after feedback from the community.
The 2025 referendum failed by a vote of 9,617 to 8,452, or 53.2% to 46.8%, while this year’s referendum failed 50.8% to 49.2%.
In a Facebook post April 8, the district said the following:
On Tuesday, April 7, the proposed operational referendum question on the ballot for FDLSD fell short of being approved by a majority of voters. As a result, we will need to make difficult decisions as we look to balance our budget moving forward, including not being able to complete security upgrades and continuing conversations about school closures for the 2027-28 school year.
Regardless of the election outcome, we deeply appreciate the valuable conversations that were had with community members throughout this process. We hope this level of engagement will continue as we move forward.
Thank you for considering the referendum for our district.
What the failed 2026-27 referendum would have funded
The district said money from the referendum would have supported current academic programs; retained Advanced Placement, shop and college-credit classes; maintained district buildings; provided mental health support for students and staff; and improved security measures.
The district previously said if the referendum failed it would need to make more budget cuts, possibly including staffing reductions, fewer classes, fewer extracurriculars, and delays in new resources and technology.
After the failed 2025 referendum and two workshops, the Fond du Lac School District Board of Education approved a first round of budget-cut recommendations for 2026-27 at a Feb. 24 special meeting. The move came amid an enrollment drop of 227 students and a projected $3.2 million revenue loss over four years.
The board adopted a “green” list of cuts that included larger elementary class sizes affecting 20 teachers (saving more than $1.7 million), reduced staff development and support programs, elimination of driver’s education, and cuts to six library media specialists.
The list also included a shift to a two-to-one Chromebook ratio for first grade and delaying new interactive displays at Fond du Lac High School.
It further limited building-level cosmetic and convenience projects such as paint, tile and some light replacements, plus items like wall hooks, bulletin boards and podiums.
District leaders said this year’s April 7 operational referendum was important to support security and programs as early talks continue on possible school closures for 2027-28, with no sites identified.
Oakfield School District referendum passes
An Oakfield School District referendum seeking to exceed state revenue limits on a non-recurring basis by $700,000 for the 2026-27 school year, $925,000 for the 2027-28 school year, $1,275,000 for the 2028-29 school year and $1,375,000 for the 2029-30 school year to maintain district programs and operations passed 701-654.
Four newcomers and four incumbents claim key seats in Fond du Lac-area races
Fond du Lac City Council results: incumbents return, new members join
The race for Fond du Lac City Council saw two incumbents and two newcomers earn seats.
Incumbents Angela Luehring and Brett Zimmermann will return while newcomers Andrea Mayweather and Joseph Biber will join the council. Incumbent Antonio Godfrey Sr. was not reelected.
Luehring, 55, has served on council since 2024. She’s owner and licensed professional counselor at Trillium Counseling. In a candidate questionnaire, Luehring said her priorities include developing the North Main Street area with public input, tackling the city’s housing and homelessness challenges by reducing barriers for developers, and helping local businesses by removing government obstacles that make it harder to succeed.
Zimmermann, 34, has served two terms on council and is director of buildings and grounds at Montello School District. In a candidate questionnaire, Zimmermann said his priorities are building a new North Main Street firehouse to maintain emergency response times, keeping a balanced budget and filling key city department vacancies to improve services. He emphasized public safety, fiscal responsibility and resident-focused leadership.
Mayweather, 25, is an economic support specialist for Fond du Lac County and a domestic violence advocate at the Solutions Center. In a candidate Q&A with the Reporter, Mayweather said her priorities include long-term solutions to homelessness — such as transitional housing, affordable apartments and support for domestic violence victims — along with stronger community outreach. She also called for building trust through inclusive events and closer ties between residents and law enforcement through community policing.
Biber, 64, is a senior business analyst and database developer. In a candidate questionnaire, Biber said his priorities are to attract and grow small and mid-sized businesses, expand workforce training for local residents, and pursue “intentional” smart growth focused on right-fit employers. He also called for greater tax transparency, including plain-English summaries of city spending.
Fond du Lac School District Board results: Moder reelected, Tranel wins seat
The Fond du Lac School District Board returns incumbent Katie Moder and welcomes newcomer Luke Tranel. Godfrey Sr. was appointed to an open seat March 2 but did not retain the seat.
Moder, 52, has served on the school board for three years and is the current board president. She’s CESA 6 director of special education and regional special education director.
In a candidate questionnaire, Moder highlighted district academic gains and said student achievement and safety must remain top priorities. She also pointed to funding and enrollment pressures, supporting both a referendum for safety/operations and continued budget reductions to stabilize finances.
Tranel, 45, a special education teacher, said his top priorities are helping the district navigate financial challenges and responding if a referendum fails, improving teacher and student retention, and strengthening connections between the schools and the broader community.
Fond du Lac County Board results: Dornbrook wins reelection; Stenz narrowly loses
Voters reelected Thomas Dornbrook to the District 9 seat over challenger Deborah Senn, while District 12 Supervisor Dennis Stenz narrowly lost to challenger James V. Sippel, 675-658, according to unofficial election results. Stenz, 72, has served 18 years as a Fond du Lac County supervisor.
Dornbrook, 76, has served as a county board supervisor for 20 years and is a retired police chief. He listed his top priorities as reviewing the Fond du Lac County Jail construction process once key design and forecasting reports are received to guide decisions on the site, capacity and financing. He also pledged to control county spending and secure funding to better serve vulnerable residents, including seniors, youth and those facing mental illness and addiction.
Sippel, 58, is funeral director and owner of Sippel Funeral Homes. He has served on the Village of St. Cloud Board, as fire chief of St. Cloud Volunteer Fire Department and as former president of Lakeshore Funeral Directors Association. He said the county should reconsider its jail plans, arguing a new complex on Scott Road is unnecessary and that using existing county buildings could meet public safety needs while saving taxpayers money. He also criticized a proposed wheel tax and warned rural departments may struggle to fund radio upgrades.
Voter turnout was down from April 2025
Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg reported 25,898 ballots were cast in the April 7 election, representing 43% turnout of 59,875 registered voters.
That turnout is down from a year ago, when 39,716 voters cast their ballots in the April 1, 2025, election for a 62% turnout of registered voters.
Fond du Lac County voters’ choice for state Supreme Court did not win
In the race for state Supreme Court, Fond du Lac County voters were not in line with the rest of the state.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Chris Taylor is the projected winner over opponent Maria Lazar, citing Decision Desk HQ and the Associated Press.
In Fond du Lac County, Lazar received 13,543 votes to 11,734 for Taylor.
Other key wins in Fond du Lac County, plus Ripon and area local races
Other election results in the county included the following:
When is the next election? Key dates for Wisconsin’s 2026 primary and general election
Next up in the election cycle will be the partisan primary Aug. 11. That election will narrow down candidates for offices like governor, U.S. Congress and more. This is when voters will select from large primary fields for governor.
Nov. 3 will mark the general election, when voters make their final choices for partisan offices.
Contact Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com. Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac referendum fails as local races bring new faces
Reporting by Brandon Reid and Daphne Lemke, Fond du Lac Reporter / Fond du Lac Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
