At the Green Bay School Board’s last meeting before it starts making decisions about its November referendum, it heard back from pollsters on what support looks like for two potential referendum options. Neither would raise tax rates.
The Green Bay School District is preparing for a November operational referendum to help address a projected deficit and replace an expiring operational referendum. An operational referendum provides districts with funding for day-to-day expenses like staff salaries, school supplies and technology, but cannot be used for capital projects.
Researcher Peter Leatherman presented how respondents felt about two different referendum situations: a potential referendum that started at $27 million and increased each year for a total $50 million, and one that started at $31 million and increased after two years to $46 million.
These questions are meant to give the board insight on what voters value and are not definite numbers; however, the board directed Leatherman to formulate the questions he asked, and plan to use that as advice for its decision.
The School Board plans to start discussing the question it’ll put on the ballot at its next meeting, which is set for July 13.
What does the survey say?
The survey asked residents a few distinct questions, including what they thought of the school district’s educational quality, what they saw as the most serious issue facing the district and their perception of the district’s spending. When asked if they felt the district was adequately funded, nearly 60% said no.
Demographically, a significant majority of respondents had no children and most were either renters or owners of a home under $300,000. Most had some college, and 55% said they were financially comfortable compared to 45% who were financially stressed.
When asked about their support for a referendum without numbers attached, respondents were split. About 30% said they were for any referendum, about 30% said they were against any referendum and 41% said they were “persuadable.”
The first half of respondents were asked about a four-year referendum that slowly increased, from $27 million, to $35 million, to $42 million, to $50 million, with no tax increase due to expiring debt. The second half were asked about a four-year referendum that levied $31 million for two years and $46 million for two years.
Pollsters found that the second one was slightly more popular, with fewer people saying they felt the district was asking for too much money. Simpler is likely better, Leatherman advised.
This is the second of two planned referendum polls. The first, conducted in February and shared at a March board meeting, asked respondents about their views on a $35 million referendum. The poll showed 61% of residents said they’d support a $35 million referendum; at that point, $35 million was the only number that had been considered.
Documents shared at a May meeting showed the district’s long-term financial picture and included a possible $90 million facilities referendum in 2028. It’s not clear what this would entail, and it has not been discussed publicly.
Why is the district planning for a referendum?
The district has been preparing for a November operational referendum since the July 2025 passage of the most recent state budget, which the district said didn’t meet its funding needs. In addition, the district’s current 10-year, $16.5 million operational referendum expires in 2027.
Inflation has raised prices significantly since voters approved that referendum in 2016, and district leaders have planned that the 2026 referendum would be larger than $16.5 million. The district in February projected a $24 million to $32 million deficit in 2027-28.
If the referendum fails, the documents list potential impacts, including increased class sizes, staff reductions in force, additional building consolidations and program cuts.
The Green Bay School District isn’t alone in its financial struggles. Districts across the state are facing fiscal difficulties as enrollment declines and costs increase. Wisconsin school district revenue is based on enrollment, but it’s difficult to cut costs like staffing and facilities because students are spread across multiple buildings, grades and classes.
What comes next?
Now, GBAPS board members will start discussing what the November referendum question will look like. They plan to start that at their July work session, which is their next meeting, on July 13.
That will require a vote, which would likely occur at the board’s July 27 meeting. The board could vote at its Aug. 24 meeting, but that meeting is scheduled for the day before the deadline to get on the ballot, according to the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials.
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 November referendum likely won’t raise tax rates, poll suggests
Reporting by Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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By Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
