FOND DU LAC – The voters spoke, and a school district referendum is more than many can afford when it comes to taxes.
The Fond du Lac School District referendum failed by 203 votes in the April 7 election. It would have allowed the district to exceed the revenue limit by $7.5 million per year for four years for security upgrades, as well as staff compensation, educational programming, and expenses for operations and maintenance.
This was less than the failed 2025 referendum that asked for $10 million for four years for many of the same expenses.
Superintendent Matt Steinbarth and the school board sought feedback from voters after the election and discussed the results in a workshop April 13.
The election was in a time of financial unrest, many people said
According to board members, the most common response from residents who voted no was that they simply couldn’t afford to spend more on their taxes.
Board member Mark Henschel pointed out that property taxes have already increased, gas prices are up, and there’s uncertainty over the proposed county jail project and how much it will cost.
“I think a lot of it is just downright timing,” he said.
Without kids in the district, some didn’t know about the referendum
Another recurrent reason was lack of understanding, especially among community members who don’t have children in the district. Without that connection, many people still didn’t know about the referendum in the first place, board member Karen Moehn said.
Steinbarth said at the beginning of the workshop that he wants to work on how to communicate with residents who don’t have children in the schools. Beyond that demographic, he also said misinformation on social media didn’t help, but he was happy with the opportunities he had to talk with the community and answer questions.
Some community members are frustrated with the district
Board member Joan Pennau added that some people are “hung up on” the 2019 referendum that upgraded each school, claiming it wasn’t explained properly and what was promised wasn’t done.
The feedback board member Antonio Godfrey received was disappointment in services from the district, and even a lack of services that they were supposed to receive. For example, he said Black families and other people of color don’t feel heard or supported in the district, and they’re not getting the same opportunities other students are afforded.
More budget cuts weren’t discussed yet
Positive feedback came down to communication: information and outreach was stronger than last year’s referendum, and it engaged the community by opening conversations.
All feedback will be used to inform future decisions, Steinbarth said.
The workshop did not discuss any budget cuts or other measures in light of the referendum. Board President Katie Moder said the board will continue to have open and public conversations as they figure out what they need to do financially to continue doing business in the school district.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Tax pressure, confusion cited as Fond du Lac school referendum fails
Reporting by Daphne Lemke, Fond du Lac Reporter / Fond du Lac Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
