The Green Bay School District will ask voters to approve a four-year operational referendum totaling $158 million this November, hoping to avoid cuts to staff and programming. The updated proposal would not increase the existing tax rate.
“This is a need-based ask,” School Board president James Lyerly said. “This does not fulfill any aspirations. It does not take into consideration any innovation. That has to be understood.”
The referendum question is “stepped,” meaning it asks for more revenue each year. If approved by voters in November, GBAPS would receive an additional $29 million in the 2027-28 school year, then $36 million in 2028-29, $44 million in 2029-2030 and $49 million in 2030-2031.
It’s slightly more than what was proposed at the board’s meeting earlier this month: $154 million, broken into chunks of $27 million, $35 million, $43 million and $49 million. That additional $4 million comes from a slightly higher projected consumer price index, which helps estimate inflation.
The referendum question will appear on Nov. 3 ballot.
What is an operational referendum? Why is GBAPS asking for more money?
There are two kinds of school referendums in Wisconsin: operational referendums and capital referendums. An operational referendum provides the district with more money for everyday expenses like teacher pay and curriculum, while a capital referendum lets the district renovate and upgrade its buildings.
Green Bay is putting an operational referendum on the ballot. After identifying multimillion-dollar budget deficits that would triple in size after an existing $16.5 million referendum expires next year, the district made several rounds of budget cuts, including reducing central office positions, closing a school pool and raising employee health care premiums.
Green Bay isn’t the only district in constant budget-crunch mode. GBAPS and other Wisconsin school districts say they’re facing a structural deficit and that the state hasn’t provided enough funding to meet schools’ basic needs. In February, Green Bay and several other districts sued the legislature over Wisconsin’s school funding system.
Wisconsin school funding is based on enrollment, and enrollment is declining. That means schools get less money each year while costs like staff and facilities stay constant, inflation increases and federal pandemic funding shut off two years ago.
More and more districts are going to referendum, and the gaps between districts allowed to bring in more versus less revenue per student grow every year.
What would this mean for my taxes?
The district’s existing tax rate will not increase because of the referendum, although school property tax rates can change and the rate for the next school year has not yet been set. In the 2025-26 school year, the district’s tax rate was $7.41 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s the lowest it’s been in at least 20 years.
For months, it seemed unlikely that the school district would land on a referendum that would increase taxes, as preliminary polls stated support would be higher if a referendum either maintained or lowered the tax rate. The two most recently polled options kept the district’s tax rate flat.
When the question was presented earlier this month, some School Board members raised concerns that inflation would rise to the point where, even if the referendum was approved, the district would still have to make cuts. The board requested the district run other financial projections to decide whether to prioritize a flat tax rate or potentially high inflation.
What did the district, board members say?
Superintendent Michael Hernandez introduced the updated referendum question and explained that the new ballot question is based on CPI increases of 4% in the first year and 3% in the years after. That change was made after reviewing economic forecasts for the upcoming year. The previous question was based on an even 3% increase.
“The goal is to reduce the likelihood that the district would need to go through another round of difficult cuts after asking voters to approve additional revenue to address rising inflation,” Hernandez said.
The overwhelming mood from the School Board was frustration that the district had been put in a place where it needed to ask voters for more money.
“Here we are again, having to go to referendum, really having no choice,” board member Laura McCoy said. “But if we want to keep our district fiscally intact and not have to lay off teachers and keep our programming at a high level or have any hope of new programming, or innovation, or any of the hopes and dreams that we have for our students and families, this is what we have to do.”
Several board members encouraged residents to ask questions to make sure they know what they’re voting for. Board member Mary Lou Yang said this referendum is “absolutely needed,” and board member Alex Mineau said the district was asking for the least it could while maintaining an acceptable level of services.
“One of the fundamental things I have personally pushed for … is ensuring that we’re not in a position where we’re making such catastrophic, continued catastrophic cuts to our program and offerings that everyone is dissatisfied with the experience,” Mineau said.
Others thanked district staff for the information and emphasized that the referendum, if approved, would keep the district tax-neutral.
Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@usatodayco.com or on X at @nadiaascharf.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: GBAPS finalizes $158M November referendum ask, tax rate to stay flat
Reporting by Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
